The Benue State Police Command, on Tuesday, said it uncovered an Internet fraud or ‘yahoo yahoo’ training centre in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.
The Command added that its recent special operation to crackdown on criminal gangs in the state also led to the arrest of 31 suspected members of various criminal gangs operating in the state.
While parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Makurdi, the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Steve Yabanet, disclosed that the suspects were arrested for various crimes including Internet fraud, robbery, cultism, kidnapping among others.
According to the commissioner, the yahoo yahoo training centre was uncovered after the command received an active intelligence about a fraud academy and operations of Internet fraudsters in Makurdi, at Jerome Hwande Street Akpa-Quarters area of Makurdi.
He said “Police detectives were detailed to investigate the case and on May 14, 2024 at about 6am the following suspects were arrested at the house; 23 years old Terpase Denmodi and 24 years old Avalumun Ayangekaa.”
He said items recovered from the suspects included seven Hp laptops, one Apple note, one Canon printer, 15 notes of Ghana cedis, two international passports, assorted clothes among other items.
The Police Commissioner said, “the suspects confessed to the crime stating that most of their victims are foreigners and they have students; that the students are usually trained in the fraud business at the house. Trainees share proceeds of fraud with them as they go out to practice.”
Also paraded was another eight member suspected internet fraudster arrested in a Makurdi Hotel as well as three members of a kidnap gang operating in Makurdi.
The Police Commissioner disclosed further that the special operation also led to the busting of a kidnap gang operating along the Makurdi-Naka road on May 6, 2024.
He said the gang had blocked the failed highway and robbed some commercial motorbike operators of their bikes.
“They also kidnapped one other victim and collected N2 Million from the family before the victim was released.
“In the course of the kidnap, one victim raised an alarm that led to the arrest of one suspect, 21 year old Mohammed Ibrahim who could not meet up with his other colleagues as they were being chased.
“The suspect confessed to the crime stating that he and his gang members usually kidnap people along Naka road and collect ransom,” he added.
CP Yabanet listed some of the items recovered from the 31 suspects to include laptop, motorbike, Ak47 rifle, ATM, a large number of ATM Cards, POS machines, locally fabricated gun, phones and other dangerous weapons.
While appealing to the public to avail police personnel of necessary information that would assist their efforts in curbing crime and criminality in the state, CP Yabanet assured that the crackdown operation would continue.
He however noted that investigation into the network of fraudsters and criminal gangs operating in the state was ongoing and would be made public as it unfolds.