Bauchi State Police Detectives have arrested Micheal Joseph ‘m’ 44yrs of Gada Biyu, Jos, Plateau State for attempted fraud and recovered 31 ATM cards of different banks in his possession.
The Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer SP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil told reporters today in Bauchi that “Reports available at the Command’s disposal indicated that on the 30th November 2022 at about 1:20pm on the same date at about 10:54am Salome Aliyude ‘f’ of Yandoka Barrack, Bauchi went to the First Bank main branch situated along Bank Road for a transaction.
“While on the ATM queue, the suspect insisted to know the type of ATM card she was using for the transaction. In this manner, she was not comfortable with his curiosity and quickly reported the suspect to the bank securities”.
Wakil said following this development, an investigation was instituted where the suspect was found with 31 ATM cards from different banks.
He said “On interrogation the suspect revealed that he hails from Benue State, and came to plateau state for seeking a job. He has been a bus driver for 3 years in Jos, Plateau State.
“He was introduced to the fraud activity by one Magaji ‘m’ of Kano State when they met at a beer parlor in Jos, Plateau State.”
Wakil said It was revealed that the suspect gathered ATM cards from different banks and went to a nearby bank and hunt for a help-seeking person who cannot operate ATM.
He said “The suspect easily gets the ATM card pin of his victim when he assisted a non-consenting person with an ATM transaction, where he quickly swaps the victim’s ATM card with old ATM card from the same bank in his possession.”
The police spokesman said further investigation revealed that the suspect successfully defrauded his first victim of N18, 000 at Access Bank Plc, while the second victim was defrauded N25, 000 at Micro Finance Bank, all in Plateau State.
“As the suspect succeeded at two distinct fraudulent activities, he decided to fly to Bauchi State in a bid to further his fraudulent activities but met his waterloo when he attempted to defraud a lady at the First Bank ATM gallery situated at Bank Road, Bauchi.
“The investigation is in progress after which the suspect will be charged in court.”
The PPRO said “In a related development sequel to the activities of recalcitrant (SARA SUKA), based on reliable intel that suspected criminal syndicates notorious for thuggery, phone snatching are terrorizing innocent people within the metropolis.
The Commissioner of police CP Aminu Alhassan raised a team of detectives led by Commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS) who immediately embarked on Round a clock operation.”
Wakil said “On 02/12/2022 at about 2300hrs, the operatives arrested one Ahmad Bala Duguri and nine others all from Anguwan Mahaukata, Hardo, and Karofin Madaki area of Bauchi metro. on the same date at about 2030hrs, armed themselves with cutlasses, sticks, and other offensive weapons thereby terrorizing people and robbing them of their valuables as well as damaging and destroying three vehicles parked by the roadside at the Karofin Madaki area%.
He said exhibits recovered from them include two cutlass, one knife, a cap and some charms.
