The Katsina State Police Command has uncovered a syndicate that specialized in swapping SIM cards of unsuspecting members of the public to withdraw money from their accounts

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing on Thursday in Katsina.

He said, “On Jan. 10, 2025, at about 11 a.m., the command succeeded in bursting a 4-man syndicate of suspected notorious fraudsters who specialised in swapping SIM cards of unsuspecting members of the public.

“They fraudulently use sophisticated tactics to withdraw money from their victims’ bank accounts.

“The command, acting on credible intelligence, launched an operation to track down the syndicate.

“After a thorough investigation, four suspects were arrested and confessed to the commission of the offense”.

Aliyu revealed that 32 SIM cards, mobile phones, and some documents containing personal details of their targeted victims were recovered in their possession as exhibits.

He added that the investigation is ongoing and the suspects would be prosecuted after the investigation.

The command, he said, also succeeded in arresting two suspects in connection with kidnapping and murder of a 12-year-old boy in Dankama, Kaita Local Government Area.

The PPRO said that the victim, a 12-year-old, was kidnapped on Jan. 11, at about 8 p.m.

The kidnappers later on the same day at about 9 p.m. contacted the family via phone call, demanding a ransom of N25m.

“Despite efforts from the family to negotiate, the kidnappers refused to release the boy and eventually killed him.

“His lifeless body was later abandoned and found on the outskirt of Dankama town,” he said.

Aliyu explained that, upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, directed the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) for a thorough investigation.

“During investigation, the operatives successfully identified and apprehended two suspects, who confessed to the commission of the crime,” he said.

He added that the command recovered the phone used to make demands for the ransom.

The suspects will be charged to court for prosecution as soon as the investigations are concluded. (NAN)