Onlookers at the headquarters of the Oyo State Police Command broke into a gale of laughter recently when members of a fraud syndicate arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the command went into the drama of how they used to deceive their victims by acting as an aged native doctor and his ‘omo Baba’ (native doctor’s boy).
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The suspects – Ahmed Adedoyin (39), Taiwo Kareem (36), Romoke Akande (38), Abiodun Onifade (34), Sarafa Musifiu (36) and Nurudeen Kasumu (45) – were accused of deceiving their victim, one Abiodun Adedayo, into believing that a vehicle was available for sale at N600,000.
The Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, revealed during a press briefing that the suspects, after collecting N550,000, lured their victim to a shrine at Obatedo village in Akinyele community in the guise of getting the owner to sign the necessary documents and receipt.
“The fraudsters further demanded a sum of N1million from their victim and strictly warned him against revealing what transpired at the shrine. Realising that he had been conned, the victim reported the case at the anti-kidnapping section of the command, and the operatives immediately commenced investigation which led to the arrest of the suspects,” he said.
The police commissioner further revealed that the suspects had been involved in the criminal act for over 10 years, with many people as their victims. Items recovered from them include criminal charms, fake documents and assorted handsets. He added that they would be arraigned in court at the completion of investigation.
The female suspect, Romoke, claimed that it was her first time of getting involved in such crime. According to her, “I have never done this before. It was the victim, who happened to be my brother-in-law’s master, who said he wanted to start auto sale. I took him to Adedoyin, and he, in turn, took him to their leader. I was given N30,000 as my share.”
Taiwo, who played the role of a native doctor, said: “I am a Quranic teacher but in reality, I am a fraudster. I act as native doctor in the syndicate. Our latest victim came to us with a request for charms that would make his business prosper. We did the charms but he came back to say he did not see any result. That was how he brought the police to arrest us.
“We asked him to bring N1million but he was able to give us N200,000. We have our shrine at Obatedo Village in Akinyele Local Government. I have been committing the crime for about three years. I also used to travel about to do the job.”
Ahmed Adedoyin told Crime Reports that his role was to play the native doctor’s boy. “This is the first job we would do together. I have my own office and the victim was brought to my office by the woman,” he said.
Narrating how he fell victim of the fraudsters to Crime Reports, Adebayo (35), said: “I discussed with my motor boy that I wanted to buy a used Toyota Sienna which I would use for transport business, since I could not afford the one imported as fairly used. He told me that his brother’s wife could help me, promising to link me with her. After he linked us, the woman took me to a vehicle painted in army green colour at Akinyele area.
“The people he took me to insisted on selling it for N600,000 and I went with my motor boy and the woman to withdraw N550,000 from the bank. I told them to give me receipt and they pretended as if they were searching for it. The woman asked me not to worry, saying that the receipt would be ready by the time I would bring the balance. I had to agree with her since she was a known face whom I believe would not harm me.
“Three days after, I went with the balance and I met some men who told me that the owner was an old man who would sign the papers. They took me in the vehicle to a village. Though I was afraid, I comforted myself with the thought that the woman I knew would not do me any harm.
“We got a hut where an old man was speaking with his face covered with cloth. He started making some revelations, saying that I needed spiritual help, as my mother was a witch. He said that I needed cleansing, warning me against revealing my visit to the village to anyone. He asked me to bring N1million for the job.
“At that point, I became suspicious, and I started perceiving the odour of marijuana and saw many bottles of gin. I knew if I made it known that I was suspecting them, they could break the bottles on my head and kill me.
“After leaving the place, I informed an elderly person and he advised me to report the case to the police. I did so with reservation but was amazed at the prompt arrest.”