The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ekiti State Command, has arrested 14 persons for alleged economic-related offences.
The NSCDC State Commandant, Mr Paul Sosina, said the suspects were arrested in the state capital, Ado Ekiti, after routine checks and manhunts which involved the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Intelligence and Investigation Unit and the Financial Crime Unit of the command.
Sosina, in a statement issued 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 disappearance of funds in their bank accounts and point of sales operators with similar fraud reports.”
Afolabi stated that the command had handed over the suspects to the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigations.
While handing over the suspects, Sosina listed the offences allegedly committed by the suspects as “criminal conspiracy, cybercrime and obtaining under false pretences.”
The suspects were arrested with various exhibits including phones, motorcycles, key bunches and jewellery.
The NSCDC commandant stated that “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 assured that “the command is now prepared to restore the dignity of the Ekiti NSCDC by vehemently rejecting any inducement from suspects and their families.”
Sosina, however, warned that “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.”
