The Niger State Police Command has revealed that the command is in the trail of a syndicate that specialises in defrauding unsuspecting traders of their hard-earned money.

The command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that an unknown fake non-governmental organisation (NGO) has been reported to have defrauded traders in Minna, the Niger State capital, of over N250,000,000 in the Maitumbi area of Minna metropolis.

According to SP Abiodun, the fake NGO was reported to have specialised in collecting varying amounts of money from traders to supply them with food items, including rice, maize, sorghum, semovita, and wheat, at subsidised prices.

It added that many of the traders deposited money into the fake NGO since June 2025, and none of the traders were supplied with any of the items.

The situation, according to him, resulted in the traders storming the NGO’s warehouse and demanding either the goods paid for or a refund of their deposits.

The Guardian learnt that on reaching the said warehouse, the traders were shocked to find the place empty, resulting in the building being ransacked by the traders.

SP Abiodun added that the NGO has absconded, even as the police have not ascertained the number of traders duped.

He noted that the investigation into the case is ongoing and efforts to arrest the perpetrators are being intensified.