Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), which is in charge of Lagos and Ogun states, says its operatives have arrested two members of a syndicate linked to the hacking of no less than 1000 bank accounts in Nigeria.
The Command spokesperson, SP Hauwa Idris-Adamu, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Tuesday, said the suspects Identified as Yusuf Ademola, 40, and Adesina Abiodun, 50, were tracked down at their hideout in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, following a petition by the United Bank for Africa.
She continued that the suspects confessed that they have many syndicates all over Nigeria and that they use software to hack into customers’ accounts and move their money undetected from any bank they wish.
“On May 8, 2023, a petition was submitted by United Bank for Africa to the Assistant Inspector General of Police that there are some syndicates that specialise in internet fraud of various banks in Nigeria, most especially United Bank for Africa, in which they hack into customers’ accounts and move their monies.
“Based on the petition, the AIG raised a team of detectives from the Zonal Monitoring Unit, who swung into action with the aid of modern technology, and two suspects, Yusuf Ademola, 40, and Adesina Abiodun, 50, were tracked down at their hideout in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
“The suspects confessed to the crime that they have many syndicates all over Nigeria and that they use software to hack into customers’ accounts and move their money undetected from any bank they wish. However, the modus operandi of these fraudsters is to have a customer’s BVN linked phone number and bank alert for easy transfer of the money.”
According to Idris-Adamu, “over 1000 customers’ accounts have been hacked and defrauded across the country,” and an investigation into the event showed that the syndicates’ members came from various regions of the nation.
She claimed that efforts were made in full force to apprehend every suspect linked to the crime.
“In the interim, the investigation is still ongoing, and suspects will soon be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation,” she said.