The Ekiti State police detained three guys who are to be part of a syndicate that specializes in ATM card fraud and theft.
Timilehin Akinola, 39, Ojo Peter, 46, and Ademola Akinware, 35, were the three suspects detained by police Rapid Response Squad members on Monday, according to a statement released in Ado-Ekiti by Police Public Relations Officer Sunday Abutu.
According to Abutu, reliable information about the suspects’ presence at the Wema Bank ATM gallery at the Okesa Branch in Ado-Ekiti led to their arrest.
“RRS operatives were promptly deployed to the scene upon receipt of the information,” the police spokeswoman stated. The suspects, who were riding a TVS motorcycle, left the site when they saw the operatives.
They were successfully apprehended at the Basiri neighborhood of Ado-Ekiti after the operatives launched a fierce pursuit.
16 ATM cards from various banks and people were found during a search of the suspects.
According to the PPRO, “preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects specialized in hijacking and swapping ATM cards from unsuspecting members of the public at ATM points within bank premises and subsequently using the cards to fraudulently withdraw funds from the victims’ bank accounts.”
According to Abutu, Michael Falade, the Commissioner of Police for the Ekiti State Command, had ordered that the investigation be stepped up in order to discover further syndicate members and determine the entire scope of their illegal activities.
According to the police spokeswoman, “the CP encourages members of the public to remain vigilant when using ATM facilities and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or contact the Command on 08062335577.”
