Police arrest syndicates for issuing threat letters to influential Nigerians

The Nigerian Police have arrested three notorious criminal gangs that specialised at issuing threat letters and calling people on phone requesting for huge amount of money or something terrible would happen to them.

Giving the names as Abdulranman Shuaibu, 21, and the gang leader, Isiaku Maheed Zambuk, 47, and Hassan Haruna, 35, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPPRO), DCP Don Awunah said in a statement in Abuja that the criminal gang call influential Nigerians such as ministers, Governors, Senators and captain of industry demanding for fabulous amount of money.

He explained that a phone (handset) containing the SIM card used to threaten the complainants was recovered. Other items said to have been recovered included copies of letters of threat to life, copies of letters of fraud addressed to influential Nigerians and cooperate bodies soliciting for monetary assistance for non-existing tragedies and projects.

It was also learnt that a list of names and phone numbers/contact of hundreds of important personalities in public and private sectors in Nigeria was also recovered by the Police’s operatives attached to the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, (IRT) Force Headquarters, Abuja.

It was learnt that the suspects were arrested on the 1^st August, 2016, after they were tracked, trailed and subsequently arrested after several complaints received from well-meaning individuals and highly placed personalities in Abuja of serious threat to their lives, intimidation and attempts to defraud them of huge sums of money.

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DCP Awunah explained that the syndicate “specialised in sending test messages and calling influential individuals such as Honourable Ministers, Senators, Governors, Captains of industry on phone demanding for huge sums of money or else the victims should await grievous consequences if they failed to comply.

It was further learnt that the gang leader, Abdulrahman Shaibu arrested during a rigorous and painstaking investigation into the crime and subsequently led to the arrest of Isiaku Maheed Zanbuk and Hassan Haruna who are also key members of the syndicate.

The suspects have confessed to the crime and explained their individual role(s) played in the perpetration of the criminal acts and other related crimes they have committed in the past.

The FPPRO further added that the suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigation. He called on members of the public to avail the police of information and be vigilant in their dwelling places.