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Security Operatives Apprehend ATM Card-Swappers in Enugu

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IGP flags off 1st NPF invitational triathlon championship in Abuja

 

Four Automated Teller-Machine (ATM) card-swappers have landed themselves in police net in Enugu over allegations of defrauding a 63-year-old man of N495,000.

 

The Enugu State Police Command made the disclosure on Wednesday in a statement issued under the signature of its mouthpiece, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.

 

DSP Ndukwe revealed that the suspects consist three males and one female, between the ages of 18 and 36.

 

They were arrested on May 6, 2023, at about 4.30 pm, by operatives serving in Hawk Tactical Squad of the State Command in collaboration with Troops of the Nigerian Air Force Enugu at Emene behind Emenite, he averred.

 

The statement gave the names of the suspects as Michael Sopuruchi, Osinachi Godwin, Moses Ani, and a mother of four, Chika Nwoko.

 

It stated, “The suspects were arrested while escaping to their above-mentioned criminal hideout in Emene, Enugu, after they fraudulently stole the ATM Card and Personal Identification Number of an unsuspecting 63-year-old male victim, while pretending to assist him withdraw money from a commercial Bank ATM along Ogui Road, Enugu.

 

“Immediately after the switcheroo, the suspects used the card and PIN to withdraw the total of N495,000.00 from the victim’s account.”

 

According to the PPRO, the suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation. They also admitted that they have carried out many other criminal acts of ATM card swapping and fraud within the Enugu metropolis.

 

DSP Ndukwe pointed out that four different ATMs including that of the victim, were recovered from them.

 

He added that the suspects were on Tuesday arraigned in court and remanded in Enugu Custodial Centre while the trial Magistrate adjourned the case to June 7, 2023, for further hearing.

 

The Magistrate also ordered that the case file be transmitted to the Attorney General for legal advice, through the Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Enugu State, according to the statement.

Crime

Bauchi Police Nab Two After Armed Gang Invades Home, Cart Away ₦4m Property

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Bauchi Police Kill 12 Alleged Bandits

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers over their alleged involvement in a housebreaking and robbery operation in Gadau community, where a couple was tied up and valuables worth about ₦4 million were stolen.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the suspects were apprehended following an intelligence-led investigation.

According to the police, the case was reported on July 3, 2026, by a 28-year-old resident of Gadau Town, who alleged that the attack occurred in the early hours of June 8.

ALSO READ: Amotekun Arrests Father, Three Sons for Alleged Kidnapping in Ondo

Abubakar said, “On 3rd July, 2026, a 28-year-old complainant, male, resident of Gadau Town, reported at Gadau Division that on 8th June, 2026, at about 0300hrs, five unknown hoodlums armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons broke into his residence.”

He explained that the armed men forced their way into the victim’s bedroom, threatened him and his wife with machetes, restrained them, and made away with several valuables.

The police spokesperson stated, “According to the complainant, the hoodlums forced open his bedroom door, intimidated him and his wife with machetes, tied them up, and carted away valuables. Items stolen include one Jincheng motorcycle, five Android mobile phones, 10 sets of wrappers, the sum of ₦1,000,000 cash, one cap, and three wristwatches, all valued at about ₦4,000,000.”

Following the report, detectives visited the scene and launched an intensive investigation, which led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Salisu Umar, 20, of Gadau Town, and Sadiq Shehu, 20, from Azare in Katagum Local Government Area.

Abubakar said, “Upon receipt of the report, police operatives visited the scene and commenced an intelligence-led investigation. As a result of diligent follow-up, two suspects were subsequently arrested.”

He added, “They are Salisu Umar, 20, of the same address, and Sadiq Shehu, 20, of Azare, Katagum Local Government Area. They underwent preliminary investigation at the Divisional Headquarters.”

The police further revealed that during an identification parade, the complainant’s wife positively identified one of the suspects.

“During an identification parade conducted, the complainant’s wife recognised and pointed out Sadiq Shehu as one of the persons who entered her room and forced her to open the main gate for the other accomplices,” Abubakar stated.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, praised the Divisional Police Officer and his team for the successful operation and directed that the matter be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a thorough investigation.

The commissioner also assured residents that security operatives were making efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects still at large, stressing that everyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Bauchi State Police Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information that could assist security agencies in combating criminal activities across the state.

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Crime

Police Smash Robbery, Cybercrime Syndicate in Gombe, Arrest Eight Suspects

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The Gombe State Police Command has arrested eight suspected members of a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in armed robbery and cyber-enabled financial fraud across several communities in the state.

The suspects were apprehended following investigations into a robbery incident reported on June 7, 2026, in Wuro Birji, Akko Local Government Area, where armed men reportedly invaded the homes of two residents, Hassan Muhammad and Jibril Hassan, wielding cutlasses and making away with their mobile phones.

ALSO READ: Police Arrest 10 Over Brutal Killing of Benue MACBAN Chairman

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Buhari Abdullahi, the stolen devices were later used to gain unauthorized access to the victims’ bank accounts.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects fraudulently withdrew ₦296,790 from one victim’s GTBank account and also obtained a Quick Loan worth ₦205,205, bringing the total amount stolen to more than ₦500,000.

The command said a major breakthrough came after operatives conducted technical analysis of the fraudulent transactions and traced one of the transfers to a Moniepoint account.

The investigation led to the arrest of Mustapha Kabiru, popularly known as “Musty Bobo,” a 19-year-old ND II Computer Science student of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo.

According to the police, Kabiru confessed during interrogation that he used information obtained from stolen mobile phones to access victims’ bank accounts and carry out fraudulent transactions.

His confession subsequently led to the arrest of seven additional suspects believed to be members of the same criminal network.

Further investigations revealed that the syndicate is allegedly linked to more than 13 similar robbery and cyber fraud incidents in Wuro Birji, Riyal, Bomala and Jauro Jatau communities.

The police said investigations are still ongoing, adding that efforts have been intensified to arrest other members of the syndicate who remain at large.

Commending the officers for the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, Umar Ahmed Chuso, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating violent crime and cybercrime.

)He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant, protect their personal information and digital devices, and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

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DSS Arraigns Five for Allegedly Hiding Wanted Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five men before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly concealing the whereabouts of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, who has been declared wanted over his alleged involvement in a coup plot.

The defendants—Reuben Ayuba, Musa Mohammed, Friday Paul, Paganengigha Anagaha and Ayebaifie Suobite—were brought before Justice Peter Lifu on a two-count charge of allegedly becoming accessories after the fact by hiding the whereabouts of the former governor.

SEE ALSO: DSS Foils Arms Smuggling Operation, Arrests Suspect Linked to Zamfara Bandit Leader

According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly concealed Sylva’s location on or about April 28, 2026, after he was implicated as a financier of an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Sylva, who also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was said to have fled the country before details of the alleged coup plot became public.

The Federal Government subsequently declared him wanted and reportedly commenced moves to confiscate some of his identified properties.

When the charges were read in court, the five defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following their plea, prosecution counsel Emmanuel Orubor urged the court to remand the defendants and fix a date for trial, stating that the prosecution was prepared to call witnesses to prove its case.

However, defence lawyers representing the defendants applied for bail, arguing that their clients had been in DSS custody since October 25, 2025, and deserved to be released on liberal terms pending trial.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the charges were bailable and granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.

The court ordered that each surety must provide an affidavit of means, evidence of three years’ tax payment, proof of visible means of livelihood, and recent passport photographs.

The identities of the sureties are also to be verified by the court’s Registrar.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the defendants were ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The case was adjourned until July 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

The charges allege that the defendants knowingly concealed the whereabouts of Sylva, described by the prosecution as a fugitive, in violation of Section 519 of the Criminal Code Act.

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