Police Arrest 13 Fake Job Syndicates, Rescue 60 Victims in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested 13 persons suspected to be job fraudsters syndicate and rescued 60 victims of fraud in Port Harcourt, state capital.

The state Commissioner of Police(CP), Emeka Nwonyi disclosed this yesterday, while parading about 28 suspects arrested from across the state for various criminal acts.

Nwonyi  said the suspects defrauded three unsuspecting victims of the sum of N1.65million.

The CP explained that the victims include eight female and 52 male, noting that   the suspects were arrested in their hideouts in Rumuaholu community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, where they also detained some of the defrauded victims for over one week.

According to the CP “The Rivers State Police operatives were notified on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at about 21:45hrs following actionable intelligence and a complaint of fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1.65 million by a syndicate of fraudsters operating at Rumuahorlu, Port Harcourt, reported by One Chima Ukaghu and Okodo Jonathan, both residents of Port Harcourt, and Bature Solomon, a resident of Ikorodu Lagos.

“A team of operatives raided two locations housing notorious syndicates and also providing a safe haven for them to carry out their nefarious criminal
activities.”

CP Nwonyi disclosed the arrested suspects as “Wisdom Kasi (25), Nwankpa Ejike (30), Eze Christian (21), Nome Ikechukwu (27), Nkoma Maduabuchi (26) Oghenerume Godstime (25) Apharake Sefa (26) Ogodo Benedict (19), Innocent Ogboso (28), Emmanuel Chinonso (27), Lucky Napoleon (26) Emmanuel Nwafor (26) and Jackson Ndifreke (32).

The police boss said preliminary investigation revealed that “the notorious syndicate defrauded unsuspecting victims and others yet to be identified across different locations in the country of huge sum of money amounting to millions of Naira under the guise of recruiting and training them for non-existent overseas job opportunities.”

He added that investigation is ongoing and efforts are intensifying to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate at large.

In a similar development, the state police command in collaboration with the Abia state command have rescued two pupils of undisclosed school in Ogoni axis of Rivers, abducted by their teacher for child trafficking.

CP Nwonyi revealed that “The Rivers Police operatives, in collaboration with  stakeholders, Rivers and Abia States commands, on June 8, 2023 led to the rescue of Joshua Kpee and Treasure Kpee, who were unhurt at Aba and brought to their parents.

“Information from them revealed they were abducted and sold by Joshua’s former teacher, whose name is unknown, who is said to be working presently in a yet-to-be-identified school at Bori, Khana LGA of Rivers State.”

Other suspects paraded include those arrested for their involvement in kidnapping, vandalism of high tension poles and other items, vehicles theft, and armed robbery.

Nwonyi also revealed that “On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at about 10:30hrs, one Thankgod Woruka was arrested in connection with the abduction of Hon. Justice Azunda, Chief Protocol to former Chief of Staff, Hon. Emeka Woke, who was abducted on June 4, 2023”.

The CP said during interrogation, the suspect confessed that he knew where the abducted victim was buried.

“He led patrol teams to the forest, where he showed the victim’s grave site and also the camp of the dreaded kidnapper “Wordi,” where one Motorcycle, AK 47, an empty magazine, and three ATM cards were found. Two of the ATM cards bore the name of the abducted victim.”

The CP said the body of the late Azunda has been exhumed by the Health Department of the Emohua Local Government Area and deposited at Delight Mortuary,  for autopsy.