The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State Command has arrested 14 suspects for alleged involvement in economic-related crimes, including cyber fraud and conspiracy.
The arrests were made in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, following coordinated efforts by several NSCDC units, including the Counter-Terrorism, Intelligence and Investigation, and Financial Crime Units.
The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Paul Sosina, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tolulope Afolabi.
According to the statement, the arrests were triggered by numerous complaints from business owners and point of sales (POS) operators, who reported significant losses from their bank accounts due to fraudulent activities.
“Following numerous complaints from the general public, especially business owners who had been complaining of disappearance of funds in their bank accounts and point of sales operators with similar fraud reports,” Sosina said.
He further said that investigations uncovered sophisticated schemes used by the suspects to exploit digital platforms and deceive their victims.
“The suspects were apprehended after extensive investigation revealed their involvement in coordinated criminal activities, including cyber fraud and taking money under false pretences from unsuspecting victims, with sophisticated methods of deception and exploitation of digital platforms.” He added
Among the items recovered from the suspects were mobile phones, motorcycles, key bunches, and jewellery, all believed to be connected to the fraudulent activities.
Sosina, who said that the suspects have been transferred to the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation, emphasised the command’s commitment to upholding justice and warned against any attempts to bribe NSCDC officers.
“The command is now prepared to restore the dignity of the Ekiti NSCDC by vehemently rejecting any inducement from suspects and their families.
“Anybody caught trying or attempting to bribe NSCDC operatives in the state would be arrested and prosecuted in line with the constitution of Nigeria as well as extant rules,” he warned.