Police arrest gang selling registered SIM to criminals

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Thursday paraded six suspects who specialise in registering Subscriber Identity Module cards with other innocent citizens’ identities and selling them to criminals.

The suspects are Ndubuisi Okeh; John Jock; Nafiu Tijani (a dispatcher); Nasiru Sulaiman; John Njoku and Suleiman Musa.

Addressing journalists while parading the suspects, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, said the suspects sold the SIM cards to criminals between N3,000 and N5000.

He noted that a total of 1,100 registered SIM cards; three registration machines; two fingerprint machines and a mobile phone were recovered from the suspects.

Igwe said, “On May 29, 2024, at about 3:00 pm, a team of detectives from the State Intelligence Department led by ACP Mohammed S. Baba, acting on credible intelligence, lured and arrested six suspects namely: Ndubuisi Okeh, John Jock; Nafiu Tijani (a dispatcher); Nasiru Sulaiman; John Njoku and Suleiman Musa Who specialises in the sales of already registered sim cards to criminals who operate with other people’s identity to avoid being traced or tracked through their own details at the price rate of three to five thousand naira.”

Igwe also said four different numbers could be registered using a National Identity Number.

According to him, as a result, these criminals use street SIM card vendors to obtain the details of unsuspecting residents who buy and register SIM cards simultaneously.

Igwe explained that the suspects use street SIM card vendors to obtain the details of innocent residents, including their National Identity Numbers, from those who patronize them.

He said, “It may interest you to know that four different numbers could be registered under a single NIN, hence, these criminals employ street sim card vendors to get the details of unsuspecting residents who buy sim cards and register at the same time.

“Over one thousand, one hundred already registered sim cards, three registration machines, and other gadgets were recovered from the suspects. The suspects have all confessed to the crime and will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.”

The CP also said a gun runner, identified as Ikechukwu Didi, was arrested with seven automatic pump action shotguns and 1000 rounds of live cartridges.

He said, “On June 7, 2024, at about 2:00 pm, acting on credible intelligence, police operatives from the anti-car theft section, trailed and arrested one Ikechukwu Didi 54 yrs, at Dutse Junction, who specialises in gun-running. Seven automatic pump action shotguns and 1000 rounds of live cartridges were recovered from him. Suspect will be arraigned in court soon.”