The Yobe State Police Command has arrested three suspected Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraudsters and a separate suspect involved in tricycle theft, as part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on criminal activities in the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued to journalists in Damaturu. He said the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence and swift police response.
According to him, the three suspected ATM fraudsters were arrested while attempting to defraud unsuspecting bank customers in Damaturu, the state capital. The suspects, identified as Sani Kasim (35), Nura Umaru (24), and Umar Suleman (22), were caught in possession of several ATM cards believed to have been stolen from their victims.
Abdulkarim explained that the suspects had perfected a technique of approaching people at ATM points under the guise of offering assistance, only to trick them into revealing their PINs and then swapping their cards.
“Upon their arrest, 47 ATM cards, four mobile phones, and a Mercedes-Benz vehicle were recovered from the suspects,” the police spokesman said.
He also disclosed that one of the victims, a visually impaired man, lost over ₦180,000 to the suspects.
In a related development, the police said a tricycle snatcher was also arrested in Geidam. The suspect was allegedly caught attempting to escape with a stolen tricycle.
Abdulkarim noted that investigations are ongoing and that all suspects would be charged to court upon completion of inquiries.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, commended the operatives for their vigilance and reiterated the Command’s resolve to rid the state of criminal elements. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security agencies.
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