Police arrest suspected scammers in Akwa Ibom, recover stolen funds

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have apprehended three suspected scammers believed to be part of a syndicate that specialises in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public across the state.

A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in Uyo on Monday said the arrest followed several complaints received by the Command.

She said the operatives launched a technical intelligence-led operation in July 2025, adding that the effort culminated in the arrest of the three prime suspects on September 5, 2025, at approximately 1330 hours, from their hideout in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

”The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has successfully apprehended three individuals suspected of being part of a syndicate responsible for defrauding numerous victims across Nigeria. The arrests followed several complaints received by the Command.

Acting on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, the operatives initiated a technical intelligence-led operation in July 2025.

“This effort culminated in the arrest of the three prime suspects on September 5, 2025, at approximately 1330 hours, from their hideout in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.” the statement read.

John listed the suspects to include Prince Francis Albert, 27 years, of Edemeya village, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area,
Augustine Bassey, 39 years, of Okobo LGA and Mbetobong Godwin, 35, from Ibesikpo LGA.

According to the PPRO, Albert, the alleged gang leader, has confessed to the crime of luring victims from various states using multiple phone numbers.

The arrested suspects have been identified as: Prince Francis Albert, 27 years, of Edemeya village, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. Albert, the alleged gang leader, confessed to luring victims from various states using multiple phone numbers.

”He admitted to beginning his criminal activities in 2022 after graduating from Sokoto State Polytechnic. He also confessed to successfully scamming several high-profile individuals, including politicians, military officers, and senior police officers, by using fake identities.

”He relocated from Oyo State to Akwa Ibom in April 2025 to evade police and DSS pursuit sourced his victims’ phone numbers from marriage invitations, obituary posters, complimentary cards, and online sources,” the statement added.

John disclosed that the second suspect, Augustine Bassey, a POS operator, was involved in receiving scammed funds through his OPay account, number 8081732375, adding that he had confessed to receiving large sums of money from victims between April and August 2025.

The third suspect, Mbetobong Godwin, according to the statement, shared a residential building with the gang leader and had also confessed to receiving funds through his OPay account, number 8160526905.

She said the three suspects are fully cooperating with the police to recover their SIM cards and assist in the arrest of other syndicate members who are currently at large.

John urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.