- Burst a fake Navy recruitment syndicate
On 7th February, 2013 at about 5pm, based on a tip off, a team of Policemen attached to Benue State Police Command arrested three fraudsters, including one Emmanuel David Audu ‘m’, a dismissed Naval personnel, residing at Block ‘F’ Room 20, Abacha Barracks, Abuja, who is the leader of the gang and two others; one Adegoke Musbahu ‘m’ and Idowu Abraham at Habibat Hotel, Old GRA, Makurdi.
The three suspects capitalizing on the gullibility of unsuspecting Nigerian youths chose to pool the wool over the eyes of members of the public by claiming to be naval officers involved in recruitment exercise for the Navy.
At the time of their arrest, eleven persons already hoodwinked into believing they were on the verge of being recruited into the Nigerian Navy were found with them. Items recovered from them include: two (2) Laptops, three (3) Naval uniforms, one (1) Naval Identity Card bearing the name of the syndicate leader, documents capturing names of candidates and the sum of one hundred thousand (N100,000.00), which Emmanuel David Audu admitted he collected from their victims at the rate ranging from N10,000 to N20,000 per candidate. The ring leader confessed that since he lost his job as a Naval officer he took to illegal recruitment and racketeering as his main source of income and livelihood.
The case is still under investigation at the State CID, Makurdi but would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.
The Nigeria Police Force wishes to advise members of the public to exercise due care and diligence in their quest for employment. Job seekers are further encouraged to always cross-check and authenticate information relating to job adverts from appropriate authorities in order not to fall prey to unscrupulous fraudsters.