The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 27-year-old suspect for allegedly impersonating a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to defraud parents and students in the Federal Capital Territory.
The suspect was apprehended by the FCT Command of the NSCDC after investigations revealed that he forged an NYSC identity to secure employment at the International Model Science Academy, a subsidiary of the National Mathematical Centre located in Kwali Area Council of Abuja.
The FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed the development while addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
Odumosu explained that the suspect allegedly presented a forged NYSC call-up letter to gain acceptance as a corps member posted to the school.
However, further verification from the NYSC confirmed that the individual was not enlisted in the scheme.
According to the commandant, the suspect used the fake identity to gain the trust of parents and students, promising to facilitate the registration of their children for a scholarship programme linked to the University of Cambridge.
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Investigations showed that the suspect collected money from several parents under the pretext of registering their wards for the scholarship examination.
He was also said to have cloned email addresses resembling those of Cambridge University and used them to send fake confirmation messages to unsuspecting victims.
The suspect allegedly demanded additional payments from parents, claiming the money would be used to hire extra lesson teachers and purchase study materials needed to help the students pass the scholarship exam.
Odumosu further revealed that items recovered from the suspect include an NYSC uniform, a forged NYSC call-up letter, documents showing financial transactions with parents, and a bag containing hard drugs.
He also dismissed reports circulating online alleging that the suspect had been illegally detained for 65 days and that the command demanded money for his release.
According to him, the claims were false, explaining that the NSCDC obtained a valid court remand order after the suspect failed to meet the conditions of his bail.
The commandant added that investigations are ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud and identify other possible victims.
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