The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has successfully rescued a young woman from a suspected internet fraudster, known as a “Yahoo boy,” in Abuja.
The suspect, 30-year-old Joseph Efe, was arrested while attempting to escape from Top View hotel in Wuse, Zone 5.
According to Dr. Olusola Odumosu, FCT Commandant of the Corps, “But for the eagle-eyed men of the NSCDC FCT Command, the victim would have been subjected to further harm”.
Efe had allegedly tied the victim up in the hotel room and was meeting an accomplice when NSCDC operatives intervened.
Upon interrogation, Efe confessed to being a serial fraudster, using dating sites like “Coded Runs” to lure women into hotel rooms, rob them of their phones, and make unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts. His modus operandi involved:
Using dating sites to lure women into hotel rooms for robbery and unauthorized withdrawals
Operating in multiple cities, including Port Harcourt, Lagos, Benin, and Abuja
Targeting vulnerable women, often leaving them traumatized
The NSCDC warned hotel owners to increase vigilance and protect their guests and facilities from criminal activities. “Hotel owners must ensure their premises are not used as havens for crime,” Dr. Odumosu emphasized.
Additionally, Dr. Odumosu cautioned young women, known as “runs girls,” to avoid endangering their lives and instead engage in legitimate businesses. “We urge young women to prioritize their safety and well-being,” he said.
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In a separate operation, the NSCDC arrested suspected vandals, including Usman Ibrahim, who was caught stealing armoured cables from a transformer at the Nuclear Technology Centre in Big Sheda Village. Other suspects, Dan Abu, Theophilus Oche, Danladi Auwal, and Ado Alqasim, were also apprehended for vandalizing air-conditioners and cables at the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in Big Sheda.
The NSCDC has handed over the suspect and victim to relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution.