The Osun police command says it has detained some people who allegedly specialise in using fake bank transaction alerts to buy food in the state.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Yemisi Opalola, told journalists at the Police Headquarters in Osogbo that two suspects, each in two different cases, were caught perpetrating the act.

“On Friday, at about 8:30 p.m., the Police received a distress call that two young men entered a boutique at Agip Area of Ede and bought clothes worth N160,000 with fake transfer through an Opay ATM card.

“On receipt of the report, policemen swung into action, and two suspects, namely Adebayo Adesanya and Olansile Abdullateef, both of Oba Akarigbo Area, Sagamu Ogun, were caught.

“During interrogation, they confessed to hail from Ogun and have been deceiving (buying items) from their victims with fake transfers, using Opay ATM cards,” Ms Opalola said.

She said that the command recovered four bags of foreign rice, twelve tubers of yam, a bunch of bananas, three OPAY debit cards and a Toyota Venza, with registration number LAGOS BDG 710 H, used for their operations.

She also said that one Olaleke Gbenga, 54, and Muftau Balogun, 37, who also used fake bank alerts to purchase rice and vegetable oil, were caught in Osogbo.

“On Jan. 6, at about 6:45 p.m., the police were informed by members of Local Hunters Group, Osogbo, that some suspects that used to purchase goods, especially rice and vegetable oil, with fake bank alerts and transfers were sighted at Oke Ayepe Area, Osogbo.

“Police detectives from the Anti-Cultism Unit swung into action and the said suspects were caught with three bags of rice recovered as exhibits.

“Discreet investigation, however, reveals that the suspects were once arrested by the police in September 2024 over a similar offence reported by at least 24 complainants.

“The suspects were charged to court and remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre for two months, from September to November 2024.

“Unfortunately, the very day they were granted bail by the court, they went and committed the same offence by purchasing rice and vegetable oil with fake transfer alerts.

“The first suspect always parades himself as a lawmaker (an honourable), while the second suspect pretends to be his bodyguard (DSS operative),” she said.

She advised traders to always verify customers’ sales transfers with their bank apps to avoid being scammed.

She said three suspects, who allegedly belong to an unlawful society called Action Boxing Training Club, were caught at their hideout on January 5.

She said on January 6, a 22-year-old person was detained for defiling a five-year-old girl with his fingers, adding that the suspect was caught by the victim’s mother.

“The victim’s mother was in her room preparing to go to shop when she heard the noise of her five-year-old daughter.

“When she rushed out, she saw blood coming out of her daughter’s private part and when she questioned her, it was discovered that the suspect, Aderibigbe Amos, dipped his finger into her private part,” Ms Opalola said.

She said that all the suspects would be charged to court after conclusion of the ongoing investigations.

(NAN)