Police foil bank robbery in Oyo

THE police in Oyo State on Wednesday foiled attempted plans by suspected robbers and international fraudsters to defraud a first generation bank in Iseyin, a community in Oke-Ogun area of the state.

The suspects reportedly lured a member of staff of the bank in charge of teller unit, Mr. Owoade Olusegun, to release the form grabber of the bank to them and connect the bank’s internet system to facilitate easy access and transfer of customers’ money from the bank.

The suspects were said to have threatened the bank’s security guard and collected the telephone number of the person in charge of the teller unit.

A native of Iseyin, Ojo Taofeek, was allegedly used by the syndicate to lure the bank staff to release the form grabber and connectivity to the Internet.

Meanwhile, six persons have been arrested in connection with the crime.

Parading the suspects before newsmen in Ibadan, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, said: “Having secured the number, the principal suspect arranged for a meeting with the bank staff and also invited his other gang members from Lagos and Abuja respectively for a meeting in Iseyin.

“The suspects were at the peak of executing their evil plan before they were arrested. Investigation revealed that apart from the Internet fraud planned by the suspects, they also intended to rob the target bank should their initial plan failed.” Two among the suspects, Dauda Olasunkami, a graduate of business administration and Abass Olatunji, who allegedly uses Internet scam as a means of livelihood, confessed to the crime, adding that they planned to make a better life if they were successful.

Other members of the gang that were arrested included Jevil Ikemefuna, a graduate of Microbiology and the bank’s security guard and Olude Bamidele, who is a graduate of Marketing. Several items were recovered by the police from the suspects.

The command also busted a syndicate of suspected fraudsters that posed as agents of the NigerianCustoms Services and defrauded a trader to the sum of N950,000, under the pretence that they would facilitate customs clearance of some phantom goods from the United Kingdom, which they never did.

First seen on Guardian