By Christopher Oji
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested four suspected fraudsters in Lagos.
The suspects, including a woman, belonged to two different syndicates that specialised in swindling their victims after hypnotising them.
The syndicates were picked after many days of surveillance by the undercover team of the RRS. A victim had reported to the police that she boarded a taxi conveying four men and, along the line, the men started discussion on some business transactions and she became interested. She claimed that she was swindled of N85,000.
A police source said the RRS started trailing the gang and arrested Sunday and Aigbe, who were identified by the victims. The suspects confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency.
Sunday confessed that he joined the syndicate after losing his job in February this year. The female member also confessed that her role was to monitor the victim while the scam lasted.
The senior police officer said two members of a second syndicate were arrested Saturday after a foiled attempt to swindle a food seller of N120,000 and jewellery at Oshodi area of Lagos.
He said: “The syndicate had accosted one Rukayat, hypnotised her and collected her purse containing N120,000 and her phones.
“They were leading her away to another location when the lady regained consciousness and called our officers nearby. The officers arrested one Atanda while three other members of the syndicate escaped.”
In his confession, Atanda gave the names of other members of the syndicate as Kayode, Shina and Lateef.
He said the gang only operated on the road.