‘Forty of us were trained to dupe Nigerians everyday’

A lady, Ibeh Chiwenu, has told how four men, including a pastor and Customs Officer, played and defrauded her.

The four suspects, Kenneth Umukoro, 36, Uba Utokcha, 41, Joseph Onuoha, 40 and Ikechukwu Okeke, 25, were arrested days after swindling Chiwenu.

They were arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Police Command, days after they swindled Chiwenu. Police noted that the suspects had defrauded several Nigerians.

Relating how she was hoodwinked by the syndicate, Chiwenu said she was going to Ojodu Berger from Ojota when Kenneth Umukoro, posing as a cab driver, driving an ash coloured Toyota Camry, 1997 model, with the registration number SMK 886 DK, stopped to pick her at the bus stop.

“He picked another passenger along Kudirat Abiola Way. We were still on Kudirat Abiola Way when the new passenger started a conversation in French language with the driver. The driver now pleaded that he wanted to take the new passenger to Customs’ Office on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, where his goods were seized. It was there their story changed. I became the subject of their manipulation in connivance with a customs agent and a pastor. Under the pretence that the four of us assist the man whose goods were trapped with the customs over export duties, they brainwashed me into releasing my ATM card. They led me to withdraw the last N9, 000 from my account.”

The victim further narrated: “After this, the pastor prayed for me and told me to go home and get more money, which my family kept at home. All these happened last week. On Thursday, my husband and I were standing at the Maryland Bus Stop. I saw the same Toyota Camry with same number plate and a new driver, but beside him was the former driver that lured me into fraud. He was now posing as a passenger. I alerted RRS officers stationed in Maryland. They arrested them.”

The suspects were picked up separately by the operatives in three incidents of fraud in Maryland, Ojodu Berger and Ajegunle between Tuesday and Thursday.

Joseph Onuoha and Ikechukwu Okeke were arrested separately, but in similar circumstances on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Onuoha disclosed to interrogators that he belonged to a fraud syndicate led by a man simply identified as Toronto. He said that their leader, who is now at large, trained over 40 of them to go out daily in search of would-be victims.

Onuoha said: “When we hit jackpot, we share it into five parts. Toronto takes two parts. Two of us in a team share two and we would share the remaining part with others. Presently, our office, which is at Ajegunle had been busted by the police. I heard that Toronto had relocated to somewhere in Surulere. Whenever we have issues with the police, he comes around to secure our bail.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, said that police won’t relent on their duties of making the state crime free. She, however, warned members of the public to be wary of suspicious dealings.