Rivers Police Bust Fake Business Platform Syndicate, Rescue 16 Victims
The Rivers State Police Command has dismantled a fake QNET business platform syndicate, arresting a key suspect, Chukwudi Okoli, and rescuing 16 victims.
Parading the suspects on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu said the breakthrough occurred on August 29, 2024, at 3 pm, when operatives from the Octopus strike force responded to a hostage situation in Igwuruta.
He said the victims, comprising 13 males and 2 females, including Amiye Joseph, were lured into the syndicate with promises of jobs in the Oil/Gas sector and US Dollar payments.
He said each victim paid between NGN 650,000 to NGN 850,000 to the phony company, Qjoseansel International Global Limited.
He said that their Modus Operandi is they do a Random phone number selection, Introduce fake job opportunities to their unsuspecting victims and invite them to Port Harcourt for fake interviews.
Afterwards, extort them for huge sums, Confined them and monitor them.
CP added that they subsequently train the victims to recruit potential victims with promises of USD 450 weekly pay and USD 25 registration fee for new entrants
He said the Exhibits recovered were Sophisticated gadgets, Phones, Laptops, Television sets, Generators, Industrial fans and Office furniture.
He said the suspect, Chukwudi Okoli, and recovered exhibits are in police custody, with ongoing investigations aimed at apprehending other syndicate members.
In a related development, CP Disu said police officers rescued a 16-year-old girl from her abductor and arrested the suspect, Prince Amadi Ogbonda, 24, on September 13, 2024.
According to him, the police received a tip around 10 am about a suspicious individual with a young girl in the Abuloma area of Port Harcourt.
Responding promptly, officers apprehended Ogbonda, a native of Elekahia Community in Port Harcourt but residing in Akwuke, Enugu.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Ogbonda lured the victim from Enugu’s Garki area, concealed her in a Ghana-Must-Go-bag, and transported her to Port Harcourt.
He explained that upon arrival, the suspect took her to the residence of Chima, an internet fraudster in Ozuoboko, where she was repeatedly assaulted by Chima and another suspect.
He, however, disclosed that the victim has been taken for medical examination and treatment, while Ogbonda remains in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.
