Security operatives have begun to clamp down on Point of Sales (PoS) agents suspected to be buying and trading money in Ondo, Peoples Gazette learnt on Sunday. 

The operatives, who were carrying out a “sting operation”, were said to have stormed some of the major market areas, particularly in the capital city of Akure. 

The Gazette gathered that the plainclothes men are from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC), and State Security Services (SSS). 

It was alleged that some PoS agents in the state have been making brisk business by buying cash from banks and in turn charged their customers higher interest.  

It was gathered that some of the PoS agents who got the information beforehand hurriedly closed their stand, while others abandoned it for fear of being arrested. 

Several witnesses told our reporter at the weekend that the security operatives stormed the popular Oja Oba market on Oba Adesida road in Akure, and arrested scores of the PoS agents. 

One of them, Gbenga Adeniyi, said he was alerted by the operation of the security agents by a customer who wanted to withdraw money and buy some perishable goods in the market. 

“We never knew they were security agents. We just noticed they were moving those (PoS agents) arrested inside a waiting van.

“In fact, It was one of my customers who rushed down here to tell me that they are operatives of the EFCC and SSS. I had to quickly close my kiosk too,” Mr Olaniyi told The Gazette.

A visit to the Isolo market on Sunday showed that some PoS agents had deserted their stands so as not to be arrested by the operatives, whom sources said were disguising as customers for the operation. 

Another witness, Iyiola Aderibigbe, said she was attending to a customer when a young lady came and asked her how much she charges for one thousand naira. 

“I told her the amount, and she just walked away. Some other men also followed her and moved to the next agents. Later, I was told that those who came to my stand are EFCC or SSS,” Ms Aderibigbe said. 

The Gazette learnt that the exercise is further causing untold hardship for customers who depend on the PoS agents in the market to withdraw cash in an attempt to avoid long queues in the bank. 

Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, could not be immediately reached on Sunday for comment. 

However, a security source in Ondo confirmed the clampdown to The Gazette, noting that the operation was carried out both in Akure South and Akure North area of the state. 

“It is a sting operation which continues till this week. So, I might not be able to dash you the figures of those arrested and it is also a joint operation with other sister security agents in the state. 

“We are debriefing those arrested already and they would have to tell us those in banks they are dealing with while further making the effort of the government more difficult,” the source said.