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From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
A suspected syndicate of robbers and fraudsters who specialise in robbing and defrauding unsuspecting victims of their valuable items such as phones, motorcycles, jewellery, and looting of their victims’ bank accounts, has been busted in Delta State.
Members of the syndicate were arrested by operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team between the 11th and 16th of August 2025, acting on credible intelligence about their activities.
Twelve victims had been defrauded of over N23.5 million before the police swooped on them.
Confirming this in a statement yesterday, State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said that exhibits recovered from the suspects include about 42 stolen iPhones, and lady bikes.
Giving graphic details of how the suspects who are in custody operate, SP Edafe said the suspects act in the guise that they were looking for direction and then hypnotise their victims before extorting and defrauding them.
“They suspect operate in Warri, Ughelli, and other parts of the state and Edo State. Exhibits recovered from them include two Toyota Camry cars with REG no. LND-809-HE and KSF-61-JU and 16 suspected stolen iPhones.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had so far defrauded their victims of over N23.5 million. The suspects stole 42 iPhones and lady bikes. Before being arrested, they had defrauded 12 victims. Suspects and exhibits are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the police in Ekpn Division have arrested one Esquire Stanley who disguised as a customer to hire ladders and never returned them to the owners.
Edafe said: “The DPO Ekpan police upon receipt of numerous complaints about stolen ladders where the suspects would come in the guise of being customers and never return with the ladder they hired.
“The DPO on 12th of August 2025 detailed operatives who embarked on an intelligence-led investigation and arrested one Esquire Stanley. The suspect stated that he sold the each ladder for N20,000 when the normal price is over N250,000. Three other victims have also identified the suspects.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of the receivers while 11 suspected stolen ladders were recovered. Investigation is ongoing. Ten suspects are in custody”.
