The Katsina State Police Command has announced the arrest of a suspected fraudster, Bishir Abdullahi, 37, who was found in possession of 14 stolen Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

Abdullahi, known for swapping ATM cards of unsuspecting victims at ATM points, was apprehended after a police officer noticed his suspicious activities at an ATM unit in one of the commercial banks in the state.

A statement by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, revealed that the suspect had illicitly withdrawn over ₦2.7 million from various private accounts.

“On November 25, 2024, at about 1130 hrs, the command arrested Bishir Abdullahi, 37, of Helele quarters, Sokoto State, a suspected notorious fraudster specialising in swapping ATM cards of unsuspecting members of the public at ATM points. He was found in possession of 14 stolen ATM cards.

“The suspect was arrested by Inspector Aliyu Muhammad, a police officer on duty at the First Bank branch in Tudun Katsira quarters, Katsina metropolis. The officer became suspicious of Abdullahi’s activities around the ATM machine. An instant search revealed 14 suspected stolen ATM cards from various banks in his possession.

“Preliminary investigation uncovered that the suspect had been using the stolen ATM cards to withdraw funds from victims’ accounts. Some incidents include:

“On 25/11/2024, the suspect swapped ATM cards with Binta Yunusa (f) and withdrew ₦75,000 from her account.

“On the same day, he swapped cards with Fatahu Makiyu (m) and withdrew ₦49,000 from his account.

“On 2/9/2024, at Zenith Bank, he swapped cards with Sa’idu Abdullahi (m) and withdrew ₦680,000 from his account.

READ ALSO:Ex-NLC chair slumps, dies during alleged dispute with police in Edo

“On another occasion, he swapped cards with Amina Sule (f) and withdrew ₦172,000 from her account.

“At a different time, he swapped cards with Babangida Adamu (m) at Zenith Bank and withdrew ₦900,000 from his account.

“On another occasion, at First Bank, he swapped cards with Zubairu Labaran (m) and withdrew ₦198,000 from his account.

“The total amount withdrawn by the suspect from victims’ accounts is ₦2,705,000. The suspect will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation,” the statement said.