Fake Rivers job syndicate smashed, 16 victims rescued

The Rivers State Police Command said its men smashed a fake job syndicate and rescued 16 persons, including 13 females who lost various sums of money to the gang in Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.

The police said the suspect and his accomplice posed as a company worker and potential employer to scam unsuspecting job seekers, saying the fraudsters had already disposed their victims of huge sums ranging from N650,000 to N850,000.00 each for a non-existent job in an oil and gas firm.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, disclosed this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Disu said the syndicate was busted when operatives responded to a distress call by concerned residents who suspected hostage-taking.

The CP stated, “On August 29, 2024, at about 3 pm, operatives of the Rivers State Police Command attached to the Octopus Strike Force, acting on a credible piece of information about a possible hostage situation in a compound at Igwuruta.

“The operatives swung into action and arrested a suspect, Chukwudi Okoli (m), who posed as a staff member of a company, Qjoseansel International Global Limited.

“During the operation, Amiye Joseph and 15 other victims comprising 13 males and two were rescued and led to the station.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the unsuspecting victims had each paid monetary sums ranging from N650,000 to N850,000 each to the phoney company with vain assurance that they would be given jobs within the oil/gas sector and receive payment in US dollars.

“The fraudsters operated in such a way that they would call their unsuspecting victims over the phone after a random selection of phone numbers. They would then introduce them to job opportunities and invite them to Port Harcourt where they would undergo fake interview processes.”

He said the victims were then extorted huge sums of money and held in a facility where they would be keenly monitored. After this was achieved, he revealed that the victims would be subjected to training where they would be taught to convince potential victims about the job opportunities with a pay of $450 per week.

“New entrants were tasked to pay $25 to facilitate a registration process. The suspects designed an online platform that generated a username and password for registrants upon completion of registration.

“Throughout the process, the victims are instructed to alienate themselves from other people. Sophisticated gadgets and items were recovered from the operational office of the suspect including phones, laptops, television sets, generators, industrial fans and office furniture,” he said.

Disu said the suspect and the exhibits were in police custody while the investigation was going on.

In a related development, the police said they had arrested a suspect who allegedly abducted a child in Enugu State and ferried it to Port Harcourt for trafficking, but said the victim was rescued.

The state police boss said, “On September 13, 2024, at about 10 am, operatives of the command attached to the Abuloma Police Station, Port Harcourt received credible and actionable intelligence, indicating suspicious movement of a man with a little girl.

“Consequent upon the receipt of this piece of information, operatives were swiftly dispatched to the area and arrested a suspect, one Prince Ogbonda, aged 24 and a native of Elekahia Community in Port Harcourt, but a resident of Akwuke area, Enugu.

“A teenager (name withheld), aged 16 years, a resident of the Garki area, Enugu State was found being held against her will by the suspect.

“During preliminary investigations, it was revealed that the suspect lured the victim out of the Garki area in Enugu, put her in a Ghana-Must-Go-bag and brought her from Enugu to Port Harcourt.

“On arrival in Port Harcourt, the victim was taken to the house of one Chima (surname unknown), an Internet fraudster operating in the Ozuoboko community. Chima and one other yet-to-be-identified suspect had non-consensual carnal knowledge of the victim repeatedly.”

Disu said the victim had been presented for medical examination and treatment while the suspect was currently in police custody, adding that, “Investigation is ongoing, while concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend other fleeing suspects.”