Police Arrest 962 Suspects for Murder, Fraud, and More
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a total of 962 suspects nationwide for various offences since the beginning of the year, according to a statement from the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi. The breakdown of the arrests includes 179 individuals for armed robbery, 100 for kidnapping, 152 for murder or homicide, 34 for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 77 for rape, and 110 suspected cultists, among others.
Adejobi made these disclosures during a parade of 13 suspects arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja on Wednesday. He highlighted the police force’s significant achievements in combating crime since January 1, 2025, stating, “The Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant achievements in the fight against crime. These include the arrest of 179 armed robbery suspects, 100 kidnapping suspects, 152 murder/homicide suspects, 34 individuals linked to the unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 77 rape suspects, 110 suspected cultists, and the recovery of 73 various firearms and 310 rounds of ammunition. The police also recovered 56 stolen vehicles and rescued 302 kidnap victims nationwide.”
Among the 13 suspects paraded was a duo, Folarin Tomisin, 35, and Yahaya Oladimeji, 23, who were arrested by the IRT for defrauding their employer of ₦300 million. Adejobi explained that the suspects were employees at a lifestyle hospitality business in Ogun State and were apprehended on December 13, 2024, at around 7:30 p.m.
Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, revealed that the two suspects, Folarin Tomisin, 35, and Yahaya Oladimeji, 23, had syphoned funds from their employer, a lifestyle hospitality business, over several years. The stolen money was diverted into their accounts to fund their expensive gambling addiction. Investigations showed that despite their significant losses, the suspects had been involved in betting for the past three years with minimal financial gains.
Adejobi provided further details, stating, “On December 13, 2024, at about 19:30 hrs, operatives of the FID-Intelligence Response Team arrested the duo of Folarin Tomisin, 35 years, and Yahaya Oladimeji, 23 years, in Ogun State. They were arrested for the corporate fraud of ₦300,000,000 at a lifestyle hospitality business where they were employed.
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Efforts to recover the stolen funds from the suspects proved futile, as investigations revealed that most of the money had been diverted to their accounts and used for expensive gambling, which has become an addiction. The suspects confessed to their crimes, revealing that in three years of betting, they had only gained ₦2-3 million despite their huge losses. One of the suspects, Folarin Tomisin, was reportedly contemplating suicide due to his failed gambling addiction just before his arrest. Both suspects will be charged in court after the investigation.”
In another operation, Adejobi confirmed that IRT operatives arrested three suspects who were posing as soldiers and involved in defrauding individuals and businesses using fake bank alerts.
The suspects, Muhammed Kabir, who claimed to be a captain in the Nigerian Army, Donald Okpere, and Haruna Ibrahim (25), were arrested in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on January 16, 2025. According to police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Kabir led a gang involved in purchasing medical equipment and phones using fake payment alerts.
Adejobi stated, “On January 16, 2025, at about 1 pm, operatives of the IRT, acting on credible intelligence, arrested the suspects, who were found in military uniforms. The suspects specialise in buying goods, mostly medical equipment and phones, using fake alerts within the FCT, Abuja. Muhammed Kabir, who claims to be a captain in the Nigerian Army, is the leader of the gang. He operates with Donald Okpere and Musa Mujahid, who is currently at large.”
Kabir, during interrogation, confessed to purchasing medical equipment worth N3.2 million through fake alerts and selling them to Haruna Ibrahim at the rate of N1.1 million. Adejobi added that the investigation is still ongoing, with more victims continuing to come forward.
Content Credit| Agbetan Bisola
Picture Credit | https://guardian.ng/
