Police smash two fake EFCC operatives in Niger

By Yahaya Isah

The Police have arrested two suspects who defrauded a motorcyclist of the sum of N400,000 and his motorcycle while posing as operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Minna, Niger State.

The two suspects accosted the motorcyclist around Shiroro roundabout of Minna and tagged him the motorcyclist a fraudster.

The subsequently forcefully took the motorcycle from him, and conveyed the victim to Army Barracks gate where they extorted the N400,000 from him, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for Niger Police Command said in a statement on Friday in Minna.

He said the victim reported on Oct. 30, at about 8pm at Tudun-Wada police Division that on the same date at about 1pm, some people who falsely claimed to be EFCC operatives, intercepted a victim on his motorcycle.

“Around Shiroro roundabout Minna, they intimidated and tagged him a fraudster, forcefully took the motorcycle from him, and conveyed the victim to Army Barracks gate.

“In the process the suspects extorted a sum of N400, 000 from the victim and went away with the motorcycle.

“The victim later reported the incident at Tudun-Wada Division and with the aid of technical intelligence, the two suspects were arrested on Nov. 2, at about 1a.m. in their houses in Sauka-Kahuta, Minna,”he said.

The two suspects are both of Same address.

Meanwhile, in the course of interrogation, exhibits recovered from them included the stolen motorcycle, one sharp knife, suspected cannabis, and a sum N110, 000, being part of the money extorted from the victim.

He said the case is still under investigation and the suspects had been transferred to SCID Minna for further necessary action.

In a related development, the operatives arrested a suspected motorcycle thief and recovered the stolen motorcycle.

The spokesperson stated that on Nov. 3, around 10 a.m, Police patrol team attached to Chanchaga Division intercepted and arrested a 21 years old suspect with a motorcycle at old City gate.

He stated that when questioned, he could not give a satisfactory account of himself. He was arrested and taken to Chanchaga Division.

“In the course of investigation, it was discovered that the suspect stole the motorcycle from a student’s lodge in Bida, removed the number plate and brought it to Minna where he intended to sell it.

“He is in custody for further investigation and would be charged to court for prosecution.

(NAN)