Police nab fake SIM card Registration agent, others in FCT

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested six members of a syndicate that specialises in the sale of already registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards to criminals who operate under other people’s identities to avoid being traced or tracked using their own details for a fee ranging from N3,000 to N5000.

On Thursday, FCT Police Commissioner, CP Ben Igweh, announced that six suspects, including Ndubuisi Okeh, John Jock, Nafiu Tijani (a dispatcher), Nasiru Sulaiman, John Njoku, and Suleiman Musa, were arrested by a team of detectives from the State Intelligence Department (SID) led by ACP Mohammed Baba based on credible intelligence.

The Police Commissioner said: “it may interest you to know that four different numbers could be registered under a single NIN, hence, these criminals employ street SIM card vendors to get the details of unsuspecting residents who buy SIM cards and register at the same time. Over one thousand, one hundred already registered SIM cards, three registration machines and other gadgets were recovered from the suspects.

“The suspects have all confessed to the crime and will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.”

Also, on May 19, 2024, at about 5:00pm, acting on credible intelligence from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Police operatives of the FCT Command trailed and apprehended Salam Zacheus (currently on court bail for a similar offence) and Ademola Razzak in Kado-Kuchi for car theft.

The CP said: “the notorious suspects who have been on the command’s wanted list are members of a four-man gang terrorising Abuja and its environs and have freely confessed to the crime. An ash coloured Toyota camry vehicle, with Reg. No. KSF 412 HT, a network jammer, seven sim cards, and a new number plate reading LSR 961 JK were recovered from them. Suspects will be charged to court soon.”

Meanwhile, a suspected gun runner, Ikechukwu Didi, 54, was arrested at Dutse Juction on June 7, 2024, at about 2:00pm, when police operatives, acting on credible intelligence from anti-car theft section, trailed and arrested him.

He specialised in gun-running and seven automatic pump action shortguns, and a thousand rounds of live cartridges were recovered from him.

The CP added that the suspect will be arraigned in court soon.