From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
A suspected syndicate of robbers and fraudsters who specialise in robbing and defrauding unsuspecting victims of their valuable items, such as phones, motorcycles, jewellery, and looting their victims’ bank accounts, have been busted in Delta State.
The syndicate members were arrested by operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team between Monday, August 11 and Saturday, August 16, 2025, acting on credible intelligence about their activities.
Over ₦23.5 million has been defrauded from about twelve victims before the police swooped on them.
Confirming this in a statement on Saturday, August 16, State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe said that exhibits recovered from the suspects include about forty-two stolen iPhones and lady bikes.
Giving graphic details of how the suspects who are in custody operate, SP Edafe said the suspects act under the guise that they are looking for directions and then hypnotise their victims before extorting and defrauding them.
“The suspects are Ibrukoko ‘m’ aged 32 years and a native of Ovu community, Ethiope East LGA, Obruche Actor ‘m’ aged 31 years and a native of Emede community in Isoko South LGA, Lucky Umukoro ‘m’ aged 28 years and a native of Eku community in Ethiope East LGA, Emmanuel Buruutu aged 22 years and a native of the Agbarho community, Burutu LGA, Musa Abdulahi ‘m’ aged 27 years and a native of Kafancha of Jamma’a LGA of Kaduna State, Sokoh ‘m’ aged 30 years of Ovwian community in Udu LGA, Preye Julius ‘m’ aged 36 years, and Kadija Abass aged 30 years of Gidama community, Ilela LGA, Sokoto State.
“The suspects operate in Warri, Ughelli, and other parts of the state and Edo State.
“Exhibits recovered from them include two Toyota Camrys with REG no. LND-809-HE and KSF-61-JU and sixteen suspected stolen iPhones.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects have so far defrauded their victims of over twenty-three million, five hundred thousand naira (N23,500,000). iPhones stolen by the suspects are about forty-two, lady bikes, and the number of victims defrauded so far is twelve. Suspects and exhibits are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the police in Ekpan Division have arrested one Esquire Stanley, who disguised as customers to hire ladders and never return them to the owners.
Edafe said, “The DPO Ekpan police, upon receipt of numerous complaints about stolen ladders where the suspects would come under the guise of being customers and never return with the ladders they hired.
“The DPO, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, detailed operatives who embarked on an intelligence-led investigation and arrested one Esquire Stanley. The suspect stated that he sold the ladders for twenty thousand naira per ladder for a ladder that normally sells for two hundred and fifty thousand naira (N250,000). Three other victims have also identified the suspects.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of the receivers, namely Chinedu Okorie ‘m’, Orgi Abara ‘m’, Philip Augustine ‘m’, and Obone Jevweu ‘m’. In total, eleven suspected stolen ladders were recovered. Investigation is ongoing. Ten suspects are in custody.”
