Delta Police Smash Syndicate That Hypnotized Victims, Stole N23M

• Arrest 18, recover phones, stolen vehicles, Ladders

The Delta State Police Command has busted a suspected syndicate of robbers and fraudsters who specialise in robbing and defrauding unsuspecting victims of their valuable items.

The syndicate members who often robbed victims of phones, motorcycles, jewellery, and looting of their victims’ bank accounts, was smashed by operatives of the CP-Special assignment team between the 11th and 16th of August 2025, acting on credible intelligence about their activities.

Over N23.5million have been defrauded from about twelve victims before the police swooped on them.

Confirming this in a statement on Saturday, State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe, said that exhibits recovered from the suspects include about forty-two stolen iPhones, and lady bikes.

Giving a graphic details of how the suspects who are in custody operate, SP Edafe said the suspects act in the guise that they are looking for direction and then hypnotise their victims before extorting and defrauding them.

“The suspects are Ibrukoko `m’ aged 32 years and a native of Ovu community Ethiope East LGA, Obruche actor “m’ aged 31 years and a native of Emede community in Isoko South LGA, Lucky Umukoro m’ 28yrs and a native of Eku community in Ethiope East LGA, Emmanuel Buruutu is age 22 years, and a native of the Agbarho community Burutu LGA, Musa Abdulahi m’ aged 27 years and a native of Kafancha of Jamma’a LGA of Kaduna state, Sokoh `m aged 30 years of Ovwian community in Udu LGA, Preye Julius ‘m’ aged 36yrs and Kadija Abass aged 30yrs of Gidama Community Ilela LGA, Sokoto State aged 30 years.

“The suspect operates in Warri, Ughelli, and other parts of the state and Edo state.

“Exhibits recovered from them include two Toyota Camrys with REG no. LND-809-HE and KSF-61-JU and sixteen suspected stolen iPhones.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects have so far defrauded their victims of over twenty-three million, five hundred thousand naira (N23,500,000), iPhones stolen by the suspects are about forty-two lady bikes, and the number of victims defrauded so far is twelve. Suspects and exhibits are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the police in Ekpsn Division have arrested one Esquire Stanley who disguised as customers to hire ladder and never return them to the owners.

Edafe said, “the DPO Ekpan police upon receipt of numerous complaints about stolen ladders where the suspects would come in the guise of being customers and never return with the ladder they hired.

“The DPO on 12th of August 2025 detailed operatives who embarked on an intelligence-led investigation and arrested one Esquire Stanley. The suspect stated that he sold the ladder for twenty thousand naira per ladder for a ladder that normally sells for two hundred and fifty thousand naira (#250,000). Three other victims have also identified the suspects.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of the receivers namely Chinedu Okorie ‘m’ , Orgi Abara ‘m’, Philip Augustine “m and Obone Jevweu ^m’, in total, eleven suspected stolen ladders were recovered. Investigation is ongoing. Ten suspects are in custody”.