By KEMI KASUMU
As the nation’s internal security continues to receive boosts with pro-activeness of the foremost security agency, Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Bauchi State Police Command – during the week – made a major catch against a syndicate training youths, who want to venture into internet criminal business, called ‘yahoo-yahoo’.
In a communication with The DEFENDER Saturday, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), described the busting of the syndicate in the act as a significant milestone in the ongoing combat against crime and criminality in the country particularly n Bauchi State.
“Worthy of note is the successful operation that led to the arrest of suspected Cybercrime, (YAHOO-YAHOO)
Undergoing training in Bauchi Metropolis.
“The Operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Bauchi Command acted on a verified intelligence on 20th May 2022, burst into an apartment located at Kirfi Road, GRA, Bauchi, where a training centre was established for the training of youths who want to venture into internet crime (yahoo-yahoo) by one Emmanuel Saleh alias Wizblaq 22 yrs old ‘m’ of Rafin-Zurfi, Bauchi,” SP Wakil said as he provided us with a list of arrested operators of the criminal business centre.
Suspects arrested in the exotic apartment are; 1. Emmanuel Saleh alias Wizblaq (the ringleader); 2. Matthias Akronyi alias Mad Kid, 20 yrs ‘m’ of Block 24, 82 Division’s Army Barracks, Enugu; 3. Patience Nuhu 21yrs (female) of Rafin-Zurfi, Bauchi; 4. Bulus Haruna* 18 yrs old ‘m’ of Rafin-Zurfi, Bauchi, and 5. Kingsley Simon* 19 yrs old ‘m’ of Rafin-Zurfi, Bauchi.
Proceeds of crime recovered from the residential apartment turned training centre as Exhibits include: 1. Four laptops; 2. One television set; 3. Four sound systems; 4. Brand new power generator; 5. Seven plastic chairs; 6. One office chair; and 7. Musical keyboard and fridge.
The principal suspect, Emmanuel Saleh, and his colleagues-in crime, according to findings, “targeted foreign women under a proxy server, hacked by spoofing the victim’s email account/website which makes it possible to carry out variations in the legitimate email of the victims to fool the victim and gain access to the accounts, calendar and data.”
During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the crime.
In the meantime, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Mamman Sanda, has directed that the suspects be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
Consequently, CP Sanda advised the Nigerian citizens of Bauchi State bloc on what precautions they should be mindful of, to mitigate against cybercrime and he listed them as follows:
“1. Be careful of the information shared online(e.g pet names, Date of Birth etc).
“2. Don’t click on anything in an unsolicited email/SMS asking to update or verify your account information.
“3. Carefully examine the email address, URL, and spelling used in any correspondence.
“4. Set up two factors (or multi-factor) authentication on any account that allows it.
“5. Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don’t know, and
“6. Verify payment and purchase requests in person, if possible; or by calling the person to make sure it is legitimate,” SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil said in the statement.
