The Niger State Police Command has arrested a job syndicate run by a couple and three accomplices for allegedly defrauding about 50 people of N10 million for jobs at the National Examinations Council’s (NECO) headquarters in Minna.
The syndicate, which was posing as NECO’s recruiting agent, was arrested at a hotel in Minna, Niger State, after a tip-off by the internal security network set up by NECO’s Registrar, Prof Ibrahim Wushishi.
Among those arrested are a 28-year-old woman, Patience Adamu, and her 48-year-old husband, Matthew Samson, residing in Minna.
Others are: 38-year-old Godwin Mathew; 35-year-old Emmanuel David and 29-year-old Perter Samuel, all residents of Kaduna, in Kaduna Sate.
Spokesperson for Niger State Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement, yesterday, said Patience was arrested alongside her husband and three other suspects after a tip-off.
He said: “On May 20, at about 1230hrs, based on a tip off that suspected syndicate of job scammers were sighted at a hotel in Minna, documenting some applicants for placement into the National Examination Council (NECO) Headquarters, Minna.
“On the receipt of this information, Police operatives attached to Intelligence Unit of the Command, swung into action and arrested the following suspects: Patience Adamu, 28, of Talba Estate Kpakungu, Minna, Mathew Samson, 48, of same address; Godwin Matthew, 35, of Kaduna State, Emmanuel David, 35, of Kaduna State and Peter Samuel, 29, of Kaduna State.”
Abiodun explained that during interrogation, Patience confessed that she had contacted about 10 unsuspecting members of the public since the year 2020 till date for a job replacement offer at NECO with a payment of N500,000 each, adding that each of the victims, made half payment and are to pay the balance, after issuing them with appointment letters.
“However, she claimed to have arranged a fake documentation for the victims as one of them was pressurising for the next stage of this job placement, while she invited three other persons in conspiracy with her husband, Mathew Samson to carry out the fake documentation.
“She said that her intention was to raise money for business and to refund these victims after the business must have become successful. That she had no employment offer or any connection for job placement at NECO.
“In the course of this investigation, we have discovered over 50 victims who have fallen victim of the job racketeering with an amount of over N10 million.”
Abiodun advised members of the public to be wary of job scammers and avoid desperation in the name of seeking for employment.
Meanwhile, at a press conference in Minna, where the alleged syndicate was paraded, Patience confessed to have collected over N10 million from her victims, the proceeds of which she used to purchase four landed property in Kaduna.
“It started in 2020. I collected money from 30 and above people. I charged them N500,000. You pay half and when the job is out you pay the balance; but some people paid N180,000, N200,000, some paid N300,000 and some N500,000.
“I have collected more than N10 million. I acquired some landed property with some of the money. I have two kids,” she said.
The mother of two denied having any links with NECO, adding that her intention was to refund the money collected from her victims after starting her business, but for the threat that came on her team.
“I wanted to raise the money for business. I have even started refunding some people. My husband is not aware.
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