The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command has arrested members of a notorious fraud syndicate allegedly involved in forgery, impersonation, and obtaining money by false pretence.

SP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command disclosed this in a statement she issued and made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday.

She explained that the arrests followed a complaint received by the Command regarding the fraudulent activities of suspects, who falsely presented themselves as legitimate business operators under the name and style of AM-PM Global Network LTD.

She said the suspects were using the guise of business owners to deceive and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The PPRO identified the suspects as one Yahaya Abdul an indigene of Kogi State and Christopher Erin from Akwa Ibom State.

According to her, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are members of an “organized criminal syndicate specializing in the forgery of official documents, impersonation, and sophisticated fraudulent schemes designed to deceive unsuspecting victims and unlawfully obtain financial benefits.

“Further investigations are ongoing to dismantle the entire syndicate. One additional suspect, identified only as Richard, is currently at large, and efforts are being intensified to ensure his immediate arrest and prosecution.

“The arrested suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations”.

A fresh clash between rival terrorist groups, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, JAS, and the Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, has reportedly left dozens of fighters dead in parts of the Lake Chad Islands, raising renewed security concerns across Nigeria’s North-East.

The development was reported by security analyst Zagazola Makama.

According to the report, the fighting erupted around Mangari and Tumbun Allura after both factions engaged in a fierce battle over control of strategic locations within the Lake Chad basin.

Makama reported that JAS fighters gained the upper hand during the confrontation, allegedly killing dozens of ISWAP fighters before seizing two boats belonging to the rival group and retreating to their stronghold at Kurnawa.

The report noted that the boats are considered critical assets because they are used to transport fighters, weapons, food supplies and other logistics across the Lake Chad waterways.

“The reported seizure of the boats is considered significant, as watercraft remain a critical means of transportation for fighters, weapons, food supplies and other logistics across the difficult terrain of the Lake Chad waterways,” the report stated.

According to intelligence sources quoted in the report, troops deployed in Mallam Fatori, Baga, Cross Kauwa, Kukawa and other communities around the Lake Chad axis have been placed on heightened alert amid fears that fleeing ISWAP fighters could disperse into nearby areas.

Makama added that security assessments warned the confrontation could increase the risk of isolated attacks, improvised explosive device, IED, ambushes and retaliatory assaults as surviving fighters attempt to regroup.

The report further stated that military authorities are considering intensified offensive operations, including increased patrols and enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities, to prevent fleeing insurgents from reorganising.

The Kano State Anti-Phone Snatching Squad has arrested seven suspected drug users during a raid at Mahaha Stadium as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse, phone snatching and thuggery across the state.

The command’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Ahmad, disclosed the development in an interview with a local radio station on Wednesday, saying the operation followed credible intelligence about the sale and consumption of illicit substances within sections of the Mahaha Stadium premises.

According to him, the squad’s commander, Nura Salisu Sharada, directed a team led by DC Abduljalal Sa’id Muhammad to raid the area.

“When our officers arrived at the scene, they found people openly trading in illicit drugs and other intoxicating substances, including locally identified products known as Madarar Sukudayi and Sholisho. The dealers fled on sighting the officers, but seven individuals who had come to purchase the substances were arrested,” Ahmad said.

He explained that the operation forms part of the squad’s expanded patrols across Kano under its “Damisa Ki Sabo” initiative, aimed at identifying and apprehending suspected drug dealers and users, as well as other criminal elements.

Ahmad added that following the arrests, Commander Sharada ordered that the seven suspects be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Command, for further investigation and possible prosecution.