Two members of a syndicate linked to the hacking of no fewer than 1,000 bank accounts in Nigeria have reportedly been arrested by the Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos State.
In a statement on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the command, SP Hauwa Idris-Adamu, she said that following a petition by the United Bank for Africa, the suspects, who specialized in hacking local banks, were arrested at their hideout in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
According to Idris-Adamu, the suspects include Yusuf Ademola, 40, and Adesina Abiodun, 50. She also stated that efforts were on to arrest other accomplices linked to the crime.
The statement read, “On May 8, 2023, a petition was submitted by United Bank for Africa to the Assistant Inspector General of Police that there are some syndicates that specialize in internet fraud of various banks in Nigeria, most especially United Bank for Africa, in which they hack into customers’ accounts and move their monies.
“Based on the petition, the AIG raised a team of detectives from the Zonal Monitoring Unit, who swung into action with the aid of modern technology, and two suspects, Yusuf Ademola, 40, and Adesina Abiodun, 50, were tracked down and arrested at their hideout in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
“The suspects confessed to the crime that they have many syndicates all over Nigeria and that they use software to hack into customers’ accounts and move their money undetected from any bank they wish. However, the modus operandi of these fraudsters is to have a customer’s BVN linked phone number and bank alert for easy transfer of the money.”
Idris-Adamu noted that “over 1000 customers’ accounts have been hacked and defrauded across the country,” adding that investigation into the incident revealed that members of the syndicates were drawn from different parts of the country.
She further said efforts were on to arrest other accomplices linked to the crime.
“In the interim, the investigation is still ongoing and suspects will soon be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation,” Idris-Adamu added.
