Akwa Ibom police smash two fraud syndicates

The Akwa Ibom State Police command has smashed syndicates that specialise in the printing of fake recharge cards of major networks and those that also use their vehicles to rob and defraud innocent passengers of their valuable goods.

The fake recharge cards recovered from the two persons were valued at N253,300 in different denominations as follows, MTN N71,600, Airtel N105,800, Etisalat N39,900 and Glo N36,000.

Parading the two groups of suspects at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Murtala Mani, said the command recorded the breakthrough because of information volunteered to the police on their criminal activities.

The commissioner, who was represented by ASP Onyeka Orji, a onetime Police Public Relations Officer of the command, said the command was committed to ensuring that Akwa Ibom state is peaceful and called on the public to always report people with suspicious undertaking to the police.

He charged members of the public to always be conscious of the vehicle they board, warning those with criminal tendencies to repent of their nefarious acts or relocate from the state.

Etini Solomon, aged 21, said: “I bought a product worth N25,000, I did not know it was invalid.” However, Itohowo Donald, aged 22, denied ever selling recharge cards to the suspect. “I followed a friend to College of Education where I met Etini, who was writing JAMB, I was sitting outside.

“After the exams, my friend introduced him to me where we exchanged phone numbers. On March 9, I received a call from a police officer in Area ‘A’, I was told Etini gave him a flash drive that was used for printing fake recharge cards. I have never sold cards before,” he said.