Police bust Asaba syndicate impersonating EFCC, extorting youths

The Delta State Police Command has arrested five fake EFCC operatives who had been terrorising members of the public in Asaba, the state capital.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this on Friday in Asaba.

He said, “Following a series of complaints received from members of the public, especially from the youths, alleging that EFCC operatives usually break into their houses at night, forcefully arrest them, take them away and extort huge sums of money from them.

“On November 16, 2022, the command received another complaint from a victim, whose house was stormed at night by the syndicate. They gained entrance into the compound by scaling the fence, broke into his apartment, forcefully abducted and took him away in a white Toyota Hiace bus.

Advertisement

“The victim stated that on getting to Head Bridge, the boundary between Delta and Anambra State, they forcefully collected his phones from him, other valuables worth N3,700,000, made cash transfer of N2,500,000 and told him that they would come for him again.

“Five other victims also reported to the command and made statements on how they were robbed of about N15,000,000. It became clear that it is the activities of hoodlums, pretending to be EFCC operatives.

“The Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Ali, directed the Command Decoy Squad to investigate, ensure that they are arrested and brought to book. In compliance with this directive, on November, the Commander CP-Decoy ASP Julius Robinson, acting on credible information trailed them to their hideout in a hotel located in Asaba.”

He said the hoodlums were hibernating in the hotel planning their next operation when police swooped on them and arrested five suspects including leader of the syndicate, Prince Allison, 29.