The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has narrated how a 30-year-old suspected internet fraudster, Joseph Efe, was apprehended after assaulting and tying up a female victim, Olivia Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, in a bid to rob her.
The suspect committed the act on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the Top View Hotel in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
The FCT commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters.
Efe, who is of Edo and Ondo origin, was attempting to flee when the NSCDC operatives apprehended him.
Odumosu said NSCDC officers stationed near the hotel noticed Efe’s suspicious movement and stopped him.
The suspect, however, tried to flee but was pursued and captured by the officers. Upon returning him to his hotel room, they discovered Chukwuemeka, bound hand and foot with a semitransparent adhesive tape (cello tape), stripped naked, and was rescued.
The commandant said, “Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a Yahoo boy and that he has not been collecting money from (victims) so he decided to hunt for young girls on a dating site called ‘coded runs’. He operates between Port Harcourt, Lagos, Benin and Abuja.
“The command’s investigation unit immediately swung into action. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Mr. Efe is a serial fraudster (yahoo) and a thief, who specialises in luring ladies on dating sites one of which is ‘‘Codded runs” to hotel rooms with the intent to rob them of their phones and making withdrawals from his victims’ bank account. Investigation also reveals that the suspect operates between Port Harcourt, Lagos, Benin, and Abuja.
“The suspect arrived in Abuja from Lagos on the 17th of September, 2024 and was lodged into FAB by Top Rank Hotel adjacent old Federal Secretariat, Areal 1. His first victim on arrival in Abuja was another lady he invited to his hotel room but could not succeed in his evil act because the lady was able to put up some resistance.
“The noise attracted hotel staff at the said hotel, who came into his room. He succeeded in escaping from the scene due to poor handling of the situation by the hotel security. Upon his escape from FAB Hotel, then proceeded to Top View Hotel where he checked in at about 2:30 am on Wednesday, 18th September 2024. He invited his latest victim who arrived at about 9 am.
“He threatened her, putting fear in her and holding her by the throat, the frightened lady succumbed, she was stripped and bound hands, legs, and mouth by the suspect. On checking the victim’s phone he discovered the lady had no money in her bank account, He then took the victim’s Android phone and left the hotel room.
“It was in the process of escaping from the hotel premises that his movement became suspicious, but in the process of trying to stop him, he took to his heels, he was chased and caught by NSCDC Operatives.”
The commandant clarified that “the video in circulation on this incident was not shot by the operatives of he NSCDC, we only became aware of its existence as it went viral on social media,” adding that as “corps we are duty bound and empowered to do due diligence before taking necessary steps towards prosecuting or handing over a suspect as the case may be to any relevant sister agency After our preliminary investigation, the suspect and the victim will be handed over to the relevant agency for any further necessary action.
Chukwuemeka, while recounting her ordeal, confirmed that Efe had lured her through a dating site called “Coded Runs,” promising her N100,000 in exchange for a meet-up. She said upon her arrival, he locked the hotel room, threatened her, and tied her up. After checking her phone and finding no money in her account, Efe allegedly took her phone and attempted to flee.
Efe, according to the NSCDC, confessed to have been into fraudulent businesses for about a month and had already extorted around N500,000 from four victims.
In his confession, Efe claimed he turned to fraud to raise money for the medical bills of his sister who is a sickle cell patient.
Odumosu warned hotel owners across Abuja to heighten vigilance on their premises to prevent their establishments from being used as havens for criminal activities.0
In a separate incident, the NSCDC made additional arrests in connection to vandalism in the Kwali Area Council.
On the same day, Usman Ibrahim, a notorious vandal, was caught in the act of stealing armoured cables from a transformer at the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission premises in Big Sheda Village.
According to Odumosu, the men of the command acted on a tip-off, and the NSCDC Anti-Vandal unit apprehended Ibrahim as he attempted to escape with the cables.
He stated that a Preliminary investigation revealed that he had been a repeat offender, and earns a living from stealing cables along the Gwagwalada-Kwali axis, where he had a ready market for the stolen goods market in Agwan Dodo Bola at Gwagwalada Area Council.
The suspect has an accomplice identified as Dan Abu, who upon sighting men of NSCDC took to his heels. It was also discovered by men of NSCDC that not only was the transformer vandalised but the street lights around the transformer had also been vandalised.
Exhibits recovered from the suspect include Armoured cables, a Saw, and Diggers. The commandant stated that the investigation is still ongoing as more suspects will be arrested as facts unfold. After which the suspects will be charged to court.
In a related operation on September 19, 2024, operatives of NSCDC while on a patrol at Big Shade, arrested three more suspects involved in vandalism. The trio, identified as Theophilus Oche, Danladi Auwal, and Ado Alqasim, were caught transporting vandalized air conditioners and cables on a motorcycle.
The materials, suspected to have been stolen from the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in Big Sheda, were being sold by Oche to the other two suspects.
Exhibits recovered from the vandals include; Armoured cables, Air conditioner units, A motorcycle used for transportation and Charms
The NSCDC said it was still investigating the cases and was committed to bringing all culprits to justice.
