How police arrested Niger trader over ATM card fraud

Stephen Onuwa a vegetable oil trader, has been arrested by the Niger State Police Command for engaging in Automatic Teller Machine card fraud, TopNaija reports.

Stephen was said to have taken the ATM card of a young man and tried to purchase 12 Tecno Canon 15 phones worth N1.3m with it at the Obasanjo Shopping Complex in Minna.

The suspect, who spoke with journalists while being paraded by the police said that he was at the ATM gallery of one of the banks in the state and took the ATM card of a young man, who forgot it after his transaction.

He stated, “I went to the bank to make a withdrawal and while in the queue, I was behind a young man and I saw his PIN. When he left the ATM machine, I saw that he forgot to take the card; he must have thought the machine trapped his card and since no one else was there, I took the card and left.

“I tried to purchase 12 Canon 15 phones worth N1.3m with the card on a PoS terminal. I didn’t know what happened, but after some minutes of arguing whether the seller received the money or not, the police came and picked me up.”

The suspect said he did not withdraw any money with the ATM card as the only transaction he initiated was foiled by the police.

“I made a mistake taking the card. I really regret my action. I should have just focused on selling my groundnut oil and resist the urge to make quick money,” Stephen added.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Wasiu, said the police were alerted by the shop owners when they noticed that the card used by the suspect apparently did not belong to him. He said the suspect would be charged as soon as investigation was concluded.

Similarly, personnel of the command have apprehended a suspected notorious armed robber said to have been making life miserable for residents of the Kuspa area in the Suleja Local Government Area of the state. The suspect, Abubakar Adamu, 35, was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad attached to the Suleja Division following a tip-off.

It was learnt that the SARS operatives, who searched his red Honda Civic car with number plate AY 280 KTN, discovered 375 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and seven AK-47 magazines. It was gathered that the suspect confessed to be a member of a robbery and kidnapping syndicate, which specialised in conveying arms and ammunition to various parts of the state and beyond.

Adamu reported that he and his gang members also dispossess unsuspecting residents of their valuables.

He stated, “The business of supplying arms at times don’t move fast hence, I have to look for alternative ways to make ends meet. I never knew it will turn out this way; it is unfortunate.

“I have been in this act for almost seven years, thinking that if I made enough money, I would quit the business. Now that I am in police net, my future is ruined.”

The PPRO confirmed the arrest and said operatives were on the trail of other fleeing members of the gang. Abiodun said the suspect would be charged after investigation.