The Police in Rivers State said eight suspected members of a cybercrime/kidnapping syndicate were arrested when its operatives raided a hideout in Cypo Estate, Umuebule 1 in the Etche Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Wednesday.
Iringe-Koko said the raid was carried out by the command’s Hawk Tactical Team on Tuesday, following credible intelligence, saying the suspects were between 17 and 22 years of age.
“While acting on reliable intelligence on the activities of some suspected kidnappers and cyber fraudsters, operatives of the command raided a hideout in Cypo Estate, Umuebule 1, Etche LGA,” the statement read in part.
She gave the names of the suspects as Desmond Williams, 19, Isaac Patrick, 22, Prince Nelson, 17, John Ahmed, 17, Thankgod Neesogho, 22, Christian Adewale, 22 Uche Alaga, 16 and Nwika Fakae, 22.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said one of their victims aged 20, who was scammed with a job offer and ended up being abducted was rescued.
The statement added, “The suspects, in their confession, revealed that their modus operandi include defrauding innocent victims online and fleecing them of their hard-earned money and luring unsuspecting victims to their hideout and using them as baits to fleece their family members and loved ones.
“The victim was lured by his friend who promised to give him a job in the hotel.
“When the job wasn’t forthcoming, the victim opted to go back to his home, but his captors wouldn’t let him. For his insistence, the victim was beaten severely and inflicted with body injuries. Suspects thereafter demanded N500,000 ransom from the victim’s parents.
“Exhibits recovered from them include seven laptops and some substances suspected to be illicit drugs. An investigation is ongoing.”
She said the state Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, has advised parents to monitor the activities of their children and be weary of the friends they keep.
