From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
It was a day of reckoning for 11 suspects, including eight suspected cultists and three suspected ATM card-swapping fraudsters, who were arrested by the Kogi State Police Command.
The suspected cult members were arrested in Itobe, in Ofu Local Government Area, while the three-member gang of ATM card-swapping fraudsters were arrested in Idah with over 59 ATM cards and other items.
The Commissioner of Police, Nezir Bello Kankarofi, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Lokoja.
He said the eight suspected cultists were arrested on 17 October behind Government Secondary School, Itobe, in Ofu Local Government Area. Police recovered two TVS motorcycles, an axe and a cutlass.
According to Kankarofi, preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had gathered to appoint a leader for a local cult group. Some allegedly admitted belonging to the Aro-Baga Vikings and Aiye confraternities.
He said the arrests followed intelligence reports of possible clashes between rival cult groups in Itobe and Ejule communities.
He said in another operation, police arrested three suspected ATM fraudsters in Idah on 20 October, following investigations into a complaint by a victim who was allegedly swindled of ₦1.5 million after his ATM card was swapped.
He said the police recovered 59 ATM cards belonging to different banks and a vehicle allegedly used by the suspects.
Kankarofi said the suspects allegedly distracted ATM users, swapped their cards after observing their PINs and used the cards to withdraw money from their accounts.
He said both cases had been referred for further investigation and urged bank customers to protect their PINs and avoid unsolicited assistance when using ATMs.
The CP said as soon as police investigations were completed, the suspects would be arraigned in court for prosecution and called on members of the public to provide credible information to the police on the activities of criminal elements in the state.