The Delta State Police Command has arrested three men accused of impersonating senior government officials to defraud a community leader of N5.475 million.
The suspects, identified as Aghogho Okpogbodu, 51, Moses Exist, 48, and Benjamin Owah, 49, were arrested by detectives attached to the Effurun Area Command following an investigation into the alleged fraud.
Police said the suspects allegedly posed as high-ranking government officials to deceive members of the public with promises of employment opportunities, political appointments and other government privileges.
According to the police, preliminary findings indicated that the suspects allegedly used SIM cards purportedly registered in the names of prominent public officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and senior officials in the Delta State Government.
The suspects also allegedly used a caller-identification application to make their calls appear as though they originated from the officials they were impersonating.
In one reported incident, the suspects allegedly impersonated the Director of Protocol to the Delta State Governor and collected N5,475,000 from a community leader in Otu-Jeremi under the pretence of facilitating his appointment as the community’s President-General.
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A search of the suspects’ premises reportedly led to the recovery of seven mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 ATM cards bearing different names, a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, and documents containing financial and identification details belonging to various individuals.
The police said investigations were ongoing to identify other possible victims and accomplices connected to the alleged scheme.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned residents against relying solely on caller-identification applications to verify the identity of callers, particularly when they request money or promise government appointments.
He urged anyone who may have fallen victim to the suspects or similar fraudulent schemes to report to the police with credible information to support the ongoing investigation.
The police reaffirmed their commitment to tackling fraud and protecting residents from criminal activities.
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