Juliana Francis
The Nasarawa Police Command has smashed a syndicate, which specialised in using gay dating apps to lure victims into traps and then rob them of their valuables.
At least six suspects have been arrested in connection with the alleged crime. The suspects are Sunday Michael, Luka Musa, Joy Sunday, Elijah Ishaya, Agada Sandra, and Abdulrahman Tijani.
The suspects, singing like birds after their arrest, confessed to having lured eight victims via the same mode of operation and have made N1 million from their victims at different times.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Adesina Soyemi, while reacting to the incident, urged members of the public to be wary of their safety before pleasure.
The CP explained that on the 31st of July 2022, at about 7:20 am, while acting based on credible information, policemen attached to Masaka Division in a sting operation, raided the hideout of some notorious criminals and arrested the seven suspects.
He said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects criminally conspired among themselves and utilise a popular Gay dating App where they arrange Dates with unsuspecting members of the public from different parts of the country, luring them to their hideout, hold them hostage and dispossess them of their belongings while threatening them with dangerous weapons. Furthermore, the victims would be assaulted and forced to reveal their Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) card Identification Number, including their bank accounts number. After which their banks will be emptied of their money. Consequently, the sum of N150,000, which they collected from one of their victims who came in from Imo State on 30th July was recovered from the suspects as an exhibit.”
Soyemi has since ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (SCIID) Lafia for in-depth investigation.
He stated that upon conclusion, the suspects will be charged to Court for prosecution. He further urged members of the public to be mindful of the kind of friends they make on social media, stressing that safety was of paramount importance before pleasure.
