Police Arrest Fake EFCC Operatives in Kidnapping and Extortion Scheme

Police in Niger State arrested three fake EFCC operatives for kidnapping students in a plot that involved extortion. Accompanying them were two informants, while one suspect remains at large. Additionally, two individuals were arrested for drug trafficking. The suspects are under investigation, with further legal actions pending.

Police in Niger State have made significant arrests involving alleged kidnappers posing as operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The trio was detained while reportedly trying to abduct and extort students in the Lapai region. Interestingly, two individuals who acted as informants were also detained alongside the primary suspects.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer for Niger State, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the incident took place on May 13, 2025, around 8:00 p.m. Four individuals, posing as EFCC agents, stormed an off-campus student lodge in Lapai. During this operation, they allegedly kidnapped two students and forced them into a vehicle marked: ABJ 245 CU. One accomplice managed to flee the scene and remains unidentified at this time.

While being interrogated, the suspects confessed to having been lured into the crime by the informants. They revealed that their methods were consistent with their supposed “livelihood.” It was alleged that they forcibly entered one of the student rooms armed with electric tasers disguised as firearms before stealing five mobile phones. Following the theft, they reportedly demanded a ransom of ten million naira (approximately $13,000), which they later lowered to five hundred thousand naira (around $650) prior to their arrest.

Additionally, fake EFCC ID cards, used during the operation, were reportedly produced in Nyanya, Abuja, all bearing the same faux identification number “1069.” The two informants, Mohammed Hassan and Hamisu Adamu from Angwan-Hausa in Lapai, were said to have provided information about the students to Emmanuel Linus, one of the main suspects. Linus has a troubling history; he is a dismissed soldier with a criminal record, having been released from prison about two years ago.

The police have confirmed that all five suspects are currently under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and they will face legal proceedings once investigations are completed.

In a separate incident, police from the 61 PMF Kontagora unit apprehended two men for drug offenses. The suspects, Jimoh Adamu and Usman Abubakar, both aged 26, were captured at around 10:00 p.m. on May 12, 2025, while riding a Bajaj motorcycle along the Babban-Rami/Rafin-Gora road. A subsequent search of their possession led to the discovery of 327 wraps of cannabis, 38 packs of Emzol tablets, and four sachets of tramadol, along with cash totaling ₦291,200.

Jimoh Adamu reportedly admitted to being a drug dealer, while Usman Abubakar acknowledged his role in facilitating the operation. SP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed that both suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigations and potential prosecution.

These recent arrests underscore the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to tackle crime, including corruption and drug-related offenses, in Niger State.

In recent operations by the Niger State Police, several suspects have been apprehended for serious offenses, including kidnapping under the false guise of EFCC operatives and drug trafficking. With investigations ongoing, the police have made clear commitments to address these criminal activities decisively. As these cases progress, surrounding communities remain vigilant, hoping for a sustained effort against such heinous crimes.

Original Source: tribuneonlineng.com