GOMBE, Nigeria — The Gombe State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old computer science student and seven others over alleged involvement in digital banking fraud and armed robbery.
The suspects were apprehended following a discreet investigation triggered by a June 7 complaint from residents of Wuro Birji in Akko Local Government Area, who reported that armed assailants invaded their homes and stole mobile phones.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, said the suspects used data obtained from the stolen devices to gain unauthorised access to victims’ bank accounts.
“The suspects fraudulently withdrew ₦296,790 from a victim’s GTBank account and also obtained a Quick Loan of ₦205,205, which was subsequently withdrawn,” Abdullahi said.
The breakthrough came after operatives traced suspicious transactions to a Moniepoint account, leading to the arrest of the prime suspect, Mustapha Kabiru, also known as ‘Musty Bobo,’ an ND II Computer Science student of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo.
“Upon interrogation, Kabiru confessed to using information from stolen phones to carry out fraudulent transactions, which led to the arrest of seven additional suspects,” the police spokesperson added.
Further investigations revealed that the eight-man syndicate had allegedly carried out more than 13 similar operations across Wuro Birji, Riyal, Bomala and Jauro Jatau communities.
Police said investigations are ongoing, with efforts intensified to apprehend other members of the gang still at large.
Commissioner of Police, Umar Ahmed Chuso, commended the operatives for their efforts and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating cybercrime and violent offences.
He also urged residents to safeguard their personal information and promptly report suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities.
