NSCDC arrests, hands over 14 suspects to EFCC in Ekiti

Fourteen people have been taken into custody by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ekiti State Command, on suspicion of commercial offences. 

Following normal inspections and manhunts by the command's Counter Terrorism Unit, Intelligence and Investigation Unit, and Financial Crime Unit, the suspects were apprehended in the state capital, according to NSCDC state commandant Mr. Paul Sosina.

Sosina, in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Monday by the NSCDC State Public Relations Officer, Tolulope Afolabi, stated that the suspects were arrested “following numerous complaints from the general public especially business owners who had been complaining of the disappearance of funds in their banks account and Point of Sales operators with similar fraud reports.”

According to Afolabi, the suspects have been turned over by the state command to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's Ilorin Zonal Office for additional investigation.

Handing over the suspects, the state commandant listed the offences allegedly committed by the suspects as “criminal conspiracy, cybercrime and obtaining under false pretenses.”

The suspects were taken into custody with a variety of items, such as jewellery, motorcycles, phones, and keychains.

The NSCDC commandant stated that “the suspects were apprehended after extensive investigation revealed their involvement in coordinated criminal activities, including cyberfraud and taking money under false pretences from unsuspecting victims with sophisticated methods of deception and exploitation of digital platform.”

He assured the public that “the command is now prepared to restore the dignity of Ekiti NSCDC by vehemently rejecting any inducement from suspects and their families.”

Sosina, however, warned that “anybody who is caught trying or attempting to bribe the NSCDC operatives in the state will be arrested and prosecuted in line with the constitution of Nigeria as well as extant rules.”

Source