Photo: POS operator (names withheld) who was arrested for receiving N4m ransom with PPRO, Bright Edafe
A point of sales (POS) operator in Delta State has been arrested by the state police command for allegedly receiving N4 million ransom on behalf of kidnappers.
The POS operator (names withheld), who was paraded by Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Bright Dafe, said she was paid N40,000 as a commission (charge) for her service.
According to her account, the female suspect said she met one Timothy Ogheneochuko in the course of some minor transaction.
“He had been doing transactions with me. Those transactions ranged between N5,000 and N2,000”, she told the police.
On the transaction that got her into trouble, she said, “(On the day) He (Ogheneochuko) didn’t tell me he was transferring any money, he just called me that morning and asked me to check my account.
“I saw N4m, of which my profit (charge) was N40,000.”
Thereafter, the suspect gave her instructions on how to disburse the balance, including sending him (Ogheneochuko) N1.2m and the rest to the other accounts, including one Precious
Speaking on his involvement the said Timothy Ogheneochukuw told SP Edafe, that he gave the POS operator’s account number to his colleagues with whom was carried out ‘local fraud’, claiming he did not know that it was used for ransom collection.
Speaking on the incident, SP Edafe warned POS operators against being used by fraudsters and kidnappers as middlemen for ransom collection, noting that those with genuine business usually go to a bank for their deals.
“I have been talking and educating people on social media, particularly POS operators. Whenever you are receiving huge sums of money, be suspicious that there is an element of crime beneath it.”
He said the N4 million had been confirmed as ransom to free a kidnap victim, adding all those link with the money are being treated as suspects.
