The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended six individuals involved in a sophisticated SIM card registration fraud, where they registered SIM cards using the identities of unsuspecting citizens and sold them to criminals.
The suspects, named Ndubuisi Okeh, John Jock, Nafiu Tijani, Nasiru Sulaiman, John Njoku, and Suleiman Musa, were taken into custody on May 29, 2024, following a thorough investigation led by ACP Mohammed S. Baba and his team from the State Intelligence Department (SID).
During a press briefing on June 13, FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, revealed that the suspects sold the fraudulently registered SIM cards to criminals at prices ranging from N3,000 to N5,000.
The police confiscated a total of 1,100 registered SIM cards, three registration machines, two fingerprint machines, and a mobile phone from the suspects.
Commissioner Igwe explained the modus operandi of the criminals, stating, "Four different numbers could be registered under a single NIN, which is why these criminals use street SIM card vendors to obtain the details of unsuspecting residents who buy SIM cards and register them simultaneously."
The suspects have reportedly confessed to their crimes and will face charges in court upon the completion of the ongoing investigation.
This case highlights the growing concern of identity theft in the realm of telecommunications and the need for enhanced security measures to protect the personal information of citizens.
