Three suspects who disguised themselves as a non-governmental organization (NGO) to defraud unsuspecting victims, mostly farmers and traders, have been arrested by the Yobe State Police Command.
The suspects were identified as Hajiya Zainab Ahmed,(44), Sunday Ezra Haruna, (35) and Ishaku Abdulsallam, (40).
Spokesperson of the command, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, February 2, 2024, said that the State Police Commissioner has directed an in-depth investigations.
According to the PPRO, the suspects swindled one of the victims out of N78.9m.
“Having received a complaint of Criminal Conspiracy Cheating and Criminal breach of trust from one Ibrahim Mohammed and Abubakar Usman of Abasha Word, Damaturu that, one Mohammed Modu of Nayi Nawa Ward, Damaturu collected 180 bags of maize grains of which each bag was prized at N40,000,00 reducing to a total sum of N7,400.000.00 while the payment was agreed to be made after supply reached Its destination, an NGO based in Maiduguri, consequently, no payment was made for quite several days and no goods returned,” the statement read.
“The Commissioner of Police directed the State Intelligence Department to carry out an immediate investigation. On the 30th January 2024 the principal suspect, one Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, aged 44 years old of Anguwan Sinusi, Kaduna State who was on the run was arrested in Kaduna State while her accomplice, Sunday Ezra Haruna, aged 35 years old, who is the Secretary of the gang and one Ishaku Abdulsallam, aged 40, of Hotoro, Kano State, who served as Accountant, were arrested in a different location of Kano and Maiduguri.
“The suspects specialized in luring unsuspecting victims mostly farmers and marketers to a contract to buy food Items by disguising and presenting themselves as NGOs deceiving them to buy without cash in hand
“They also demand large quantities of their goods and with false promises to pay after supplying to a particular destination in Borno, Yobe or any place of choice under the pretext of donating them to an IDP Camp.
“After a supply, they will request them to wait for the money and later sell them at a gift away price without the victim (s) knowledge and cart away the proceeds.”
