Police Arrest Impostors Posing as EFCC Operatives in Niger State

The Niger State Police have arrested three men impersonating EFCC operatives who abducted two university students for ransom. The suspects, equipped with fake ID cards and tasers, demanded initially ten million Naira, later negotiating it down to five hundred thousand. The police have launched an operation to capture an additional suspect and further investigate this criminal network.

In a significant crackdown, the Niger State Police Command has apprehended three individuals posing as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who were involved in the abduction and robbery of students from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University in Lapai. The suspects, identified as Emmanuel Linus, 30, Hyelda Aliyu, 28, and Abduljallid Tanko, 33, all hailing from Abuja, targeted students at their off-campus residence on May 13.

Equipped with electric tasers that were disguised to resemble firearms, the suspects abducted two students and initially demanded a ransom of ten million Naira, which they later negotiated down to five hundred thousand Naira. The swift response from the police at Lapai Division, based on credible intelligence, led to the interception of the suspects along Suleja Road in Kwakuti. They were found in possession of their getaway vehicle, a Toyota Corolla with the registration number ABJ 245 CU. Notably, one suspect, Alfa James, managed to evade capture during the police operation.

Investigations revealed the suspects had forged EFCC identification cards, which were reportedly made at a local print shop in Nyanya, Abuja, all bearing the identical fraudulent ID number 1069. During questioning, the suspects admitted to having been contacted by informants, identified as Mohammed Hassan and Hamisu Adamu, from the Angwan-Hausa area in Lapai, to carry out the abduction.

Further assessments unveiled that Emmanuel Linus, one of the arrested individuals, has a troubling past as he is a dismissed soldier with prior criminal involvement, including a two-year imprisonment for earlier offenses. The Niger State Police Command has vowed to continue its efforts to capture the escapee and to dismantle the broader criminal network involved in these activities.

The recent arrests by the Niger State Police underscore the serious issue of impersonation and crime against students in the region. With ongoing investigations and the determination to apprehend the remaining suspect, the police aim to enhance public safety and dismantle such criminal operations. The case highlights the necessity for vigilant law enforcement to safeguard communities.

Original Source: punchng.com