The Rivers State Police Command has smashed a fake job syndicate operating in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area, rescuing 16 persons, including 13 females, who lost various sums of money to the gang.
State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, disclosed this at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Disu explained that the suspect, Chukwudi Okoli, and his accomplice posed as company workers and potential employers to scam unsuspecting job seekers. They promised non-existent jobs in an oil and gas firm, collecting huge sums ranging from N650,000 to N850,000 each from their victims.
“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,” Disu stated.
On August 29, 2024, at about 3 pm, operatives from the Rivers State Police Command attached to the Octopus Strike Force responded to a distress call 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 females were rescued and led to the station,” Disu said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the unsuspecting victims had each paid monetary sums ranging from N650,000 to N850,000 each to the phony company with vain assurance that they would be given jobs within the oil/gas sector and receive payment in US dollars. The victims were then extorted and held in a facility where they would be keenly monitored. After achieving this, they 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.
Sophisticated gadgets and items were recovered from the operational office of the suspect, including:
- Phones
- Laptops
- Television sets
- Generators
- Industrial fans
- Office furniture
In a related development, the police arrested a suspect, Prince Ogbonda, 24, a native of Elekahia Community in Port Harcourt, but a resident of Akwuke area, Enugu, for allegedly abducting a child from Enugu State and ferrying her to Port Harcourt for trafficking.
Disu stated, “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 to the receipt of this piece of information, operatives were swiftly dispatched to the area and arrested the suspect.
“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 suspect and exhibits were in police custody while investigations were ongoing.
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“The victim has been presented for medical examination and treatment while the suspect is currently in police custody. The investigation is ongoing, while concerted efforts are intensified to apprehend other fleeing suspects.”
