3 Suspected Fraudsters Nabbed In Akwa Ibom

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command person smashed a fraud syndicate alleged to person defrauded immoderate high-profile Nigerians of millions of naira implicit the years.

The constabulary nationalist relations serviceman , DSP TImfon John, told journalists astatine the authorities command’s headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, that the seizure of the suspected scammers was achieved done diligent intelligence.

According to the constabulary spokesperson, the arrested suspects person politicians, elder subject and constabulary officers, arsenic good arsenic different high-profile Nigerians, arsenic targeted victims.

She listed the suspects’ identities, including Prince Francis Albert, 27, from Edem Aya, successful the Ikot Abasi section authorities area; Augustine Ernest Bassey, 39, from Okobo LGA; and Mbetobong Godwin, 35, from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.

She said: “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has successfully apprehended 3 individuals suspected of being portion of a syndicate liable for defrauding galore victims crossed Nigeria. The arrests followed respective complaints received by the Command.

“Acting connected the instructions of the commissioner of constabulary (CP), CP Baba Mohammed Azare, operatives of the Command initiated a method intelligence-led cognition successful July 2025.

“This effort culminated successful the apprehension of the 3 premier suspects connected September 5, 2025, astatine astir 13: 30 hours, from their hideout successful the Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.

“Prince Francis Albert, 27years aged from Edemeya village, Ikot Abasi LGA, who is the alleged pack leader, confessed to luring victims from assorted states utilizing aggregate telephone numbers.

“He admitted to opening his transgression activities successful 2022, aft graduating from Sokoto State Polytechnic. He besides confessed to successfully scamming respective high-profile individuals, including politicians, subject officers, and elder constabulary officers, by utilizing fake identities.

“The fishy told investigators helium sourced his victims’ telephone numbers from matrimony invitations, obituary posters, complimentary cards, and online sources. He further admitted to relocating from Oyo State to Akwa Ibom successful April 2025, to evade pursuit by Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.

“The 2nd suspect, Augustine Ernest Bassey, 39 years, from Okobo LGA, is simply a Point of Sale (PoS) operator, accused of receiving scammed funds done his OPay account. He has confessed to receiving ample sums of wealth from victims betwixt April and August 2025.

Also, the 3rd suspect, Mbetobong Godwin, 35, from Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, shares a compound with the pack leader. He has confessed to receiving funds done his OPay relationship and collecting important amounts of wealth for the syndicate during the aforesaid period.

“The suspects are afloat cooperating with the Police to retrieve their SIM cards and assistance successful the apprehension of different syndicate members who are presently astatine large.”

According to her, the bid has enjoined the nationalist to stay vigilant and study suspicious activities to information agencies for urgent action.