The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the successful arrest of two suspects believed to be part of a criminal syndicate involved in unauthorized access to over 1000 bank accounts across Nigeria. This disclosure was made in a statement by SP Hauwa Idris-Adamu, the spokesperson for Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos State.
The arrests come in the wake of a previous warning issued by the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) about the increasing number of bank fraud cases in the country. Additionally, in May 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had placed 7,552 account holders on the Bank Verification Number (BVN) watch list due to their involvement in fraud-related activities.
The suspects, identified as Yusuf Ademola (aged 40) and Adesina Abiodun (aged 50), were apprehended at a hidden location in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, following a petition lodged by a tier-1 Nigerian bank. According to the statement, on May 8, 2023, the United Bank for Africa reported the presence of criminal syndicates engaged in internet fraud targeting various banks in Nigeria. These fraudsters operated by hacking into customers’ accounts and illicitly transferring their funds.
Upon receiving the petition, the Assistant Inspector General of Police assembled a team of detectives from the Zonal Monitoring Unit, who quickly initiated an investigation aided by advanced technology. The operation led to the successful tracking and arrest of the two suspects in Ijebu Ode.
The arrested individuals reportedly confessed to having multiple syndicates operating across Nigeria, using sophisticated software to hack into customers’ accounts and execute undetected transfers from any bank of their choice. Their modus operandi involved having access to a customer’s BVN-linked phone number and bank alerts for seamless money transfer. So far, over 1000 customers’ accounts have fallen victim to this hacking and fraud scheme, spanning the entire country.
The Nigeria Police Force continues to urge the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to safeguard their bank accounts and personal information from such criminal activities. Further investigations are underway to uncover and apprehend other members of the syndicate involved in these fraudulent activities.
