Police nab three suspected ATM fraudsters, recover 16 cards in Ekiti

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of an ATM fraud syndicate and recovered 16 bank cards allegedly stolen from members of the public.

The suspects, Timilehin Akinola, 39, Peter Ojo, 46, and Ademola Akinware, 35, were arrested on Saturday by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad in Ado-Ekiti.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, the arrest followed intelligence about the suspects’ alleged activities at the ATM gallery of Wema Bank’s Okesa branch in the state capital.

Abutu said the suspects attempted to flee on a TVS motorcycle after sighting the police, prompting the operatives to give chase and eventually intercept them in the Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti.

During a search, the officers allegedly recovered 16 ATM cards belonging to different banks and individuals, while preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly stole or swapped customers’ cards at ATM points within bank premises.

The police further alleged that the suspects used the cards to make unauthorised withdrawals from victims’ accounts. The Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, therefore directed investigators to intensify the probe.

The command further revealed that the investigation would also focus on identifying other suspected members of the syndicate and establish the full extent of their alleged activities.

Meanwhile, the police urged residents to exercise caution when using ATM facilities and promptly report suspicious persons or activities around banking halls and ATM galleries to security agencies.