Katsina Police Arrest Four Suspects ‘For Swapping POS Machines With Fake Ones’

• The command has also succeeded in arresting another suspect in connection with a rape case of a 16-year-old girl.
• The PPRO foiled a robbery attempt on a commercial tricycle rider as other members of the syndicate escaped.

The Katsina police command says its operatives have arrested four suspected criminals who specialise in swapping Point of Sales (POS) machines and withdrawing money from their victims.

Abubakar Aliyu, the Katsina police spokesperson, spoke on Thursday during a parade of some suspects in the state.

Aliyu said seven POS machines were recovered from the suspects, adding that they had swindled five victims who were mostly business owners over ₦4.7 million.

“In the course of investigation, it was revealed that the syndicate would criminally swap the POS machines of unsuspecting victims with fake ones that looked identical, and then criminally withdraw money from the victims’ accounts,” Aliyu said.

“The suspects had swindled five victims who were mostly business owners over ₦4.7 million. The suspects confessed to the commission of the crime and investigation is ongoing. At the end of the investigation, the suspect will be charged to court.

Speaking further, the police spokesperson said with the assistance of some kind-hearted citizens, its operatives were able to apprehend the suspects while they were attempting to rob a commercial tricycle driver.

He added that other members of the criminal syndicate managed to escape.

“The syndicate’s modus operandi is to drug their victims by offering them drinks laced with sedatives before robbing them of their tricycles,” Aliyu continued.

“In the course of investigation, two other victims identified the suspect, corroborating his involvement in the crimes robbing them of their tricycles valued at ₦1.6 million, and ₦2.250 million respectively.”

The police spokesperson said that the command arrested a suspected member of a syndicate that has been terrorizing commercial tricyclists in the state, in connection with a series of armed robberies targeting unsuspecting tricycle riders.

He added that the command has also succeeded in arresting another suspect in connection with a rape case of a 16-year-old girl.