Police operatives in Akwa Ibom State have busted the nefarious activities of a gang specialised in defrauding numerous victims across Nigeria.
Accordingly, three suspected members of the syndicate have been arrested, and some funds swindled from victims have been recovered.
DSP Timfon John, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Akwa Ibom State Police Command, stated this in a press release issued in Uyo on Monday, September 15, 2025.
The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, upon receiving several complaints sent to the Command, instructed Operatives of the command to initiate a technical intelligence-led operation in July 2025.
“This effort culminated in the arrest of the three prime suspects on September 5, 2025, at approximately 1330 hours, from their hideout in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area,” she added.
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DSP identified the arrested suspects as follows: “Prince Francis Albert (m), 27 years, of Edemeya village, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. Albert, the alleged gang leader, confessed to luring victims from various states using multiple phone numbers, including 07018079625, 08057090611, 09125284189, 08169159852, and 08081732375.
He admitted to beginning his criminal activities in 2022 after graduating from Sokoto State Polytechnic. He also confessed to successfully scamming several high-profile individuals, including politicians, military officers, and senior police officers, by using fake identities. Albert told investigators he sourced his victims’ phone numbers from marriage invitations, obituary posters, complimentary cards, and online sources. He further admitted to relocating from Oyo State to Akwa Ibom in April 2025 to evade police and DSS pursuit.
“Augustine Ernest Bassey (m), 39 years old, of Okobo LGA. Bassey, a POS operator, is accused of receiving scammed funds through his OPay account, number 8081732375. He has confessed to receiving large sums of money from victims between April and August 2025.
“Mbetobong Godwin (m), 35 years old, of Ibesikpo LGA. Godwin, who shares a compound with the gang leader, also confessed to receiving funds through his OPay account, number 08160526905. He admitted to collecting significant amounts of money for the syndicate during the same period.”
The PPRO stated that suspects are fully cooperating with the police to recover their SIM cards and assist in the arrest of other syndicate members who are currently at large.
She urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
