By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
The Nigeria Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command
said its operatives on Wednesday, apprehended a suspected internet fraudster popularly called Yahoo boy trying to escape from Top View hotel, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja.
The Commandant of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu stated this on Friday in Abuja while parading the suspect.
He said the suspect, 30 years old Joseph Efe, who is of Edo and Ondo origin, was arrested after coming out of the hotel premises allegedly to meet an accomplice, leaving
his victim tied up in the hotel room.
“But for the eagle eyed men of the NSCDC FCT Command who were at their sentry post, upon noticing Joseph’s suspicious
movement stopped him but instead of stopping, the suspect took to his heels after
sighting our gallant officers who chased him, caught him and was led back to his hotel room, where the naked girl was found tied hands and legs with
semitransparent adhesive tape (Cellotape).
“The victim, Olivia Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, who hails from Abia State was
immediately rescued from the situation where she has been stripped naked, bound,
hands, feet and mouth.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a yahoo boy and that he has not
been collecting money from the activities so he decided hunt for young girls on a dating site called ‘coded runs’.
“He operates between Port Harcourt, Lagos, Benin and
Abuja.
“The command’s investigation unit immidaitely swung into action. Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, Mr Efe is a serial fraudster (yahoo) and a
thief, who specialises in luring ladies on dating site one of which is ‘‘Codded runs” into hotel rooms with the intent to robbing them of their phones and making
withdrawal from his victims bank account.
“Investigation also reveals that the suspect operate between Port Harcourt, Lagos,
Benin and Abuja.
“The suspect arrived Abuja from Lagos on the 17th September, 2024 and lodged
into FAB by Top Rank Hotel adjacent old Federal Secretariat, Areal 1.
“His first victim on arrival in Abuja was another lady he invited to his hotel room but could not succeed in his evil act because the lady was able to put up some
resistance.
“The noise attracted hotel staff at the said hotel, who came into his room. He succeeded in escaping from the scene due to poor handling of the situation by the
hotel security.
“Upon his escape from FAB Hotel, then proceeded to Top View Hotel where he checked in at about 2:30am of Wednesday, 18th September 2024. He invited his
latest victim who arrived at about 9am.
“He threatened her, putting fear in her and holding her by the throat, the frightened lady succumbed, she was stripped and bound hands, legs and mouth by the suspect.
“On checking the victim’s phone he discovered the lady had no money in her bank
account, he then took the victim’s android phone and left the hotel room.
“It was in the process of escaping from the hotel premises that his movement became suspicious, but in the process of trying to stop him, he took to his heels,
he was chased and caught by NSCDC Operatives.
“Let it be made abundantly clear that the video in circulation on this incident was not shot by the operatives of he NSCDC, we only became aware of its existence
as it went viral on social media.
Furthermore, as a Corps, we are duty bound and empowered to do due diligence before taking necessary steps towards prosecuting or handing over a suspect as the
case may be to any relevant sister agency.”
