The Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has successfully apprehended two individuals specialized in hacking into bank customers’ accounts, News About Nigeria reports.
The suspects were captured following a diligent investigation prompted by a petition lodged by United Bank for Africa (UBA) in May.
Hauwa Idris-Adamu, the spokesperson for the command, officially confirmed the arrest of the two cyber criminals in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos. According to her, the police force acted swiftly upon receiving the petition and initiated a meticulous operation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“On the 8th of May 2023, a petition was submitted by United Bank for Africa (UBA) to the AIG that there are some syndicates that specialize in internet fraud of various banks in Nigeria, most especially United Bank for Africa (UBA),” revealed Idris-Adamu.
Utilizing advanced techniques and modern technology, a team of detectives from the zonal monitoring unit, formed under the supervision of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG), swiftly swung into action to apprehend the culprits.
After meticulous tracking, the two suspects were traced to their hideout in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, where they were taken into custody. During interrogation, the arrested individuals confessed to being part of a larger syndicate operating nationwide. They further revealed that they employed sophisticated software to hack into customers’ accounts and execute undetected money transfers across multiple banks.
Their modus operandi involved obtaining customers’ BVN-linked phone numbers, enabling them to easily transfer funds without raising suspicion. Shockingly, the cybercriminals admitted to successfully hacking into over 1,000 bank accounts, thereby defrauding numerous customers throughout the country.
Hauwa Idris-Adamu emphasized that the investigation uncovered the syndicate’s multi-location network, with its members scattered across various regions of Nigeria. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to apprehend all individuals associated with the criminal operation, ensuring that justice is served.
