From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi Police Command has arrested eight suspected cultists in Itobe, Ofu Local Government Area, and three suspected members of an ATM card-swapping fraud syndicate in Idah, recovering 59 ATM cards and other items in separate operations.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Nezir Bello Kankarofi, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarters in Lokoja on Wednesday.
He said the arrests followed intelligence gathering and sustained surveillance by police operatives.
He said the operations were part of ongoing efforts to tackle violent crimes, financial fraud and other criminal activities across the state.
According to the Commissioner, eight male suspects were arrested on October 17, 2026, at about 5:45 p.m., when operatives of the Itobe Division, working with local auxiliary forces and community leaders, raided a location behind Government Secondary School, Itobe.
The suspects were identified as Mutari Ahmed, 26; Mohammed Tairu, 21; Audu Moses Yahaya, 27; Peter Vincent, 28; Progress Aminu, 21; Wisdom Friday, 21; Gabriel Enema, 22; and a 14-year-old boy.
Police recovered two TVS motorcycles, an axe and a cutlass during the operation.
The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had gathered to appoint a leader for a local cult group. Some of them allegedly admitted belonging to the Aro-Baga Vikings and Aiye confraternities and provided information about other individuals linked to their activities.
Kankarofi said the arrests were significant in view of intelligence reports warning of possible clashes between rival cult groups in Itobe and Ejule communities.
He added that the Command had strengthened security measures to prevent violence, protect residents and commuters, and address threats of reprisals against security personnel and facilities.
The case has been transferred to the Violent Crime Response Unit for further investigation, including efforts to arrest fleeing suspects, identify accomplices and establish the full extent of the groups’ activities.
The Commissioner warned that the police would not tolerate cultism or any other criminal activity, stressing that the Command had no relationship with cultists or other criminal elements.
He urged residents of Itobe, Ejule and neighbouring communities, as well as commuters travelling along the Itobe–Anyigba Road, to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or threats to the nearest police station.
In a separate operation, the police arrested three suspected members of an ATM card-swapping fraud syndicate in Idah on October 20, 2026, at about 9:30 a.m.
The suspects were identified as Philip Akiola, 50; Ojo Thomas, 56; and Abdulrauf Suleiman, 48.
Kankarofi said their arrest followed sustained surveillance initiated after a victim reported on May 19, 2026, that his ATM card had been swapped, resulting in the loss of ₦1.5 million from his bank account.
Police operatives reportedly recovered 59 ATM cards belonging to different banks and a vehicle allegedly used by the suspects.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the syndicate used a coordinated distraction technique to target unsuspecting ATM users.
According to the police, one member of the group allegedly observes a victim entering their personal identification number (PIN) and identifies the bank card, while another distracts the victim.
The suspects then allegedly swap the victim’s card and use the captured card and PIN to withdraw money or access funds in the victim’s account.
The Commissioner said further investigations suggested that the syndicate had been involved in the alleged fraud for more than a year.
He added that the suspects reportedly identified an individual known as Sunday, who is currently abroad, as the person who introduced them to the scheme.
The police said the syndicate primarily targeted ATM users at branches of First Bank, Union Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) within its area of operation.
The case is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lokoja, for further investigation.
The Commissioner advised bank customers to exercise caution when using automated teller machines, warning them against exposing their PINs or accepting unsolicited assistance from strangers.
He also urged ATM users to ensure they retrieve their own cards before leaving the machines.
Anyone who suspects that their card has been swapped should contact their bank immediately to block the card and report the incident to the police, he added.
Kankarofi assured residents that investigations into both cases were ongoing and that further developments would be communicated as necessary.
He reiterated that all suspects would be treated in accordance with the law and remained innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
