Ondo police arrest Internet fraudster, foil robbery attempt, recover 72 vehicle brain boxes, others

THE Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rescued a Chinese national, Jiang Peng Fei, 25, from the den of three kidnap suspects, apprehended a notorious internet fraudster, Daniel Obasi, who defrauded unsuspecting people of their possessions by hacking into their online accounts; and other seven suspects arrested over other crimes.

The new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mike Ogbodo, noted that the state was relatively calm before the “unfortunate incident of the kidnap of the elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae” and “the recent perpetrators of the dastardly act who have been arrested and charged to court.”

According to him: “On 01/10/205, at about 1700hrs, three hoodlums armed with locally made pistol entered into the office of JHX Plywood Factory located at Akinfosile, Omotosho Area, Ore, Ondo State and kidnapped one Chinese National.”

The Police boss said “on receipt of this information, the Command through a well coordinated tactical operation, swung into action and rescued the kidnapped victim unhurt, while Adegbayi Akinmusayo and Lucky Akinnuoye, a prime suspect and also the manager of Keneri Hotel, Ore where the suspects put up and planned their operation were arrested.”

A serial fraudster, “Daniel Obasi of No. 1, Zion Street, Port Harcourt, who always impersonated and hacked into the e-mail accounts of top government officials to dupe unsuspecting Nigerians, was arrested by men of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Ondo State Command.”

Ogbodo revealed that Obasi and his cohorts hacked into the Facebook accounts of their victims by creating another code in place of the owners’ original code and thereafter blocked their victims’ access to the accounts.

He disclosed that a member of a syndicate, Mr. Abdullahi Matt, who specialized in stealing vehicle brain boxes from Mile 2, Lagos State, was arrested with over 30 vehicle brain boxes, identifying one Mr. Emmanuel Ezekwe of Shop 7, Block A, Ladipo Spare Parts Market, Mushin as the buyer of the stolen items.

Similarly, there was a foiled bank robbery attempt last Wednesday by the surveillance squad of the Command, who discovered a long tunnel of about 10 to 15 metres dug by suspected criminals behind the Ado/Owo Road branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

“This is a new trend being employed by men of the underworld these days. Consequently, bank management are advised to be conscious of the happenings in their environment and also endeavour to always remove any barrier that could serve as cover for criminals,” Ogbodo said.

According to the commissioner, 11 suspects were arrested while his men were still on the trail of the suspects’ accomplices, 72 brain boxes, one motorcycle and one vehicle were recovered from the suspects and would be used as exhibits against them in court, as the Command strives to rid the state of crime and related atrocities.