Police arrest cab driver, online fraudster in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested a notorious cab driver and two suspects involved in sophisticated online fraud and relationship scams.

Rivers State police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement, said the Command’s C4i Intelligence Unit had been working tirelessly to track down and apprehend individuals involved in various criminal activities.

She said one of the suspects, Nwanna Andrew, a 44-year-old cab driver from Aboh-Mbaise, Imo State, was arrested for targeting lone female passengers and robbing them of their personal belongings.
According to Iringe-Koko, Andrew used his private plate-numbered vehicle to carry out his criminal activities, which included diverting passengers to secluded areas where he would attack and rob them.

She said: “On October 4, 2024, Andrew picked up a female passenger along Stadium Road, Port Harcourt, and diverted the car to a secluded area near Port Harcourt Primary School. There, he attacked and robbed her of two phones, including a Tecno Pop 2 and another Android device.
“Andrew struck again on October 10, 2024, robbing another female passenger of her valuables, including iPhones, a Redmi phone, AirPods, and cash. The second victim promptly reported the incident to the police, leading to Andrew’s arrest on October 18, 2024.

“During interrogation, Andrew confessed to his crimes and revealed a co-conspirator, Garba Adamu, a 38-year-old Bureau de Change operator from Kano. Adamu acted as the receiver for the stolen items and admitted purchasing the last set of phones for ₦120,000.

“Andrew also confessed to having robbed multiple victims since he started the degenerate practice in August 2023. The Rivers State Police Command views these arrests as a significant breakthrough in their efforts to combat criminal activities linked to depraved cab drivers.”

In a related development, she noted that the operative of the Command apprehended two suspects involved in sophisticated online fraud and relationship scams.

The suspects, Michael Onyedikachi and Akachukwu Benedict, both 29 years old, were arrested for defrauding Sandra Austin, a Nigerian residing in Ontario, Canada, of 110 million Naira.
According to the Police spokesperson, the suspects used social engineering tactics and fake online personas to manipulate their victims.

She said they acquired phone numbers through a dealer specializing in cloned SIM cards and processed payments through cryptocurrency wallets.

The suspects’ modus operandi involved posing as engineers or other professionals on social media platforms, where they would build relationships with their victims and eventually convince them to send money for various projects or investments.

“In the case of Sandra Austin, the suspects posed as an engineer who could help her construct properties in Nigeria. They sent her pictures of luxurious houses purportedly built by them in upscale areas like Ajah, Lagos, and convinced her to transfer funds to a provided bank account,” she said.

“The Police have recovered significant items linked to the fraud, including a Toyota Corolla, land documents, laptops, and phones. The suspects have confessed to their crimes and are currently being held in police custody.”

Meanwhile, she said the Command will continue its investigation to arrest other fleeing suspects and will charge them to court upon completion of the investigation, while urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to public transport services or online transactions.

She also urged victims and witnesses to come forward to assist in ensuring justice is served and assured that all necessary measures will be taken to protect the identities and interests of those who come forward.