Ado-Ekiti
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad in Ekiti State have arrested three suspected members of an ATM card fraud syndicate in Ado-Ekiti.The suspects were identified as Timilehin Akinola, 39; Ojo Peter, 46; and Ademola Akinware, 35.Ekiti Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, disclosed this in a statement to journalists.Abutu said the arrest followed a tip-off that the suspects were sighted at the ATM gallery of Wema Bank, Okesa Branch, Ado-Ekiti.According to him, police teams were immediately deployed to the location.
On sighting the officers, the suspects fled on a TVS motorcycle but were chased and apprehended in the Basiri area of the state capital.During a search, police recovered 16 ATM cards belonging to different banks and individuals.Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly specialised in stealing and swapping ATM cards of unsuspecting customers at bank ATMs.
They were also accused of using the stolen cards to make withdrawals from victims’ accounts.The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, CP Falade Adegoroye Michael, has directed a wider investigation to uncover other members of the syndicate and the full scope of their operations.
The command advised residents to be cautious when using ATM facilities and to report any suspicious persons to the nearest police station.
