LAGOS – The Rivers State Police Command reported that they dismantled a counterfeit job syndicate and rescued 16 individuals, including 13 women, who were swindled in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The perpetrators masqueraded as company employees and employers to deceive unsuspecting job seekers, defrauding them of significant amounts ranging from N650,000 to N850,000 each for a fictitious job in an oil and gas company.
The Commissioner of Police for the state, Olatunji Disu, revealed this during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Disu mentioned that the syndicate was apprehended after officers answered a distress call from vigilant residents who suspected possible hostage situations.
The CP mentioned, “On August 29, 2024, around 3 pm, the Rivers State Police Command’s Octopus Strike Force, acting on credible information about a possible hostage situation in a compound at Igwuruta.
“The officers sprang into action and apprehended a suspect, Chukwudi Okoli (m), who pretended to be an employee of Qjoseansel International Global Limited.
“During the operation, Amiye Joseph and 15 other victims, including 13 males and two females, were rescued and taken to the station.
“Preliminary findings showed that the victims paid varying amounts from N650,000 to N850,000 to the fake company with false promises of oil/gas sector jobs and US dollar payments.
“The scammers would contact victims randomly, offer job prospects, and request them to come to Port Harcourt for fake interviews.
“The victims were coerced into paying large sums, held in a monitored facility, and trained to lure more victims with promises of $450 per week job pay.”
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“New members were required to pay $25 for registration processing. The culprits set up an online system that issued usernames and passwords upon completion.
“During the scheme, victims were told to isolate themselves. Various sophisticated gadgets and items like phones, laptops, TVs, generators, fans, and furniture were found at the suspect’s office,” Disu stated.
Disu confirmed that the suspect and the seized items were in police custody pending investigation.
Additionally, the police reported the arrest of a suspect who allegedly kidnapped a child in Enugu State and transported them to Port Harcourt for trafficking, but thankfully, the child was rescued.
The Police Commissioner stated, “On September 13, 2024, at approximately 10 am, officers from the Abuloma Police Station in Port Harcourt received credible intelligence regarding the suspicious movement of a man with a young girl.
Following this information, officers were promptly dispatched to the area and apprehended a suspect identified as Prince Ogbonda, 24 years old, hailing from Elekahia Community in Port Harcourt but residing in the Akwuke area of Enugu.
A 16-year-old girl from the Garki area in Enugu State was discovered to be held against her will by the suspect.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect enticed the victim from the Garki area in Enugu, placed her in a Ghana-Must-Go bag, and transported her from Enugu to Port Harcourt.
Upon arrival in Port Harcourt, the victim was taken to the residence of an individual named Chima, an Internet fraudster operating in the Ozuoboko community. Chima and another unidentified individual engaged in non-consensual acts with the victim.”
The Commissioner confirmed that the victim received medical attention, and the suspect is currently in police custody. He added, “The investigation is ongoing, with efforts being made to apprehend other suspects who are on the run.”
