The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has apprehended some traders of pre-registered SIM cards in Kano metropolis.
It was gathered that the exercise was jointly conducted by men of Department of State Security Services and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC).
This was disclosed in a statement to journalists in Kano, the NCC head of enforcement Salisu Abdu said the exercise was conducted following a tip off that some people are selling registered SIM cards to consumers.
He said after receiving the report, the commission with support of some security agencies raided the places and apprehended eleven (11) persons.
Abdu further said the suspects have revealed some major dealers who provide them with the pre-registered SIM cards.
Abdu observed that the emergence of pre-registered SIM cards in the market has contributed to the current security challenges facing the country.
Still in Kano, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Habu Sani, has confirmed that the command arrested 392 suspected criminals, who committed various degrees of criminal acts across the state.
He said out of the number of the suspected criminals, 30 were alleged to be armed robbery suspects.
Mr Sani further disclosed that 26 out of the suspects were alleged to be involved in the kidnapping of citizens, and 12 rifles that were in the possession of the suspected criminal were also retrieved from circulation.
According to him, 312 thugs known in local parlance as “Yan Daba” were also nabbed by the police, adding that 11 suspected fraudsters operating in the state are currently in police net.
