By joshua Police Arrest 8 Suspected Cultists in Itobe, 3 ATM Fraudsters in Idah
The Kogi State Police Command has arrested eight suspected cultists in Itobe, Ofu Local Government Area and three members of an ATM card-swapping fraud syndicate in Idah.
The Commissioner of Police disclosed this at a press briefing in Lokoja on Wednesday, saying the arrests were part of sustained operations to protect lives and property and prevent crime in the state.
Giving details of the first operation, the Commissioner said operatives of the Itobe Division, working with local auxiliary forces and community leaders, acted on credible intelligence and raided a location behind Government Secondary School, Itobe, at about 5:45 p.m. on October 17, 2026.
The raid led to the arrest of eight male suspects 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.
Items recovered from them included two TVS motorcycles, an axe and a cutlass.
Preliminary investigations, according to the CP, indicated that the suspects had gathered to appoint a leader for a local cult group. Some admitted membership of the Aro-Baga Vikings and Aiye confraternities and provided information on other persons connected to their activities.
He said the arrests were significant in view of intelligence regarding planned violent clashes between rival cult groups in Itobe and Ejule communities, driven by longstanding rivalries, territorial disputes and retaliatory attacks.
The Command, he said, is also addressing reprisal threats against security personnel and facilities and has strengthened measures to prevent violence and protect residents and commuters along the Itobe–Anyigba road.
The case has been transferred to the Violent Crime Response Unit for further investigation, including efforts to apprehend fleeing suspects and identify accomplices.
“The Nigeria Police Force has no friendly, supportive or compromising relationship with cultists, secret confraternities or any criminal elements,” the CP declared, advising residents of Itobe, Ejule and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant, continue lawful activities without panic and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station.
In the second operation, operatives arrested three suspected ATM fraudsters in Idah at about 9:30 a.m. on October 20, 2026.
The suspects are Philip Akiola, 50; Ojo Thomas, 56; and Abdulrauf Suleiman, 48.
The CP said their arrest followed sustained surveillance initiated after a complaint on May 19, 2026, in which a victim reported that his ATM card was swapped, leading to the loss of N1.5 million from his account.
The operation led to the recovery of 59 ATM cards belonging to different banks and a vehicle used by the syndicate.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate targets unsuspecting ATM users through a coordinated distraction technique, where one member observes the victim entering their PIN while another creates a distraction to swap the card and later withdraw funds.
Further investigations showed the syndicate had operated for over a year, primarily targeting users at First Bank, Union Bank and UBA branches, and that an individual identified as “Sunday,” who is currently abroad, introduced them to the crime.
The case is being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lokoja, for further investigation.
The Commissioner advised residents to shield their PINs at ATMs, avoid unsolicited assistance and confirm retrieval of their cards before leaving, urging anyone who suspects a swap to immediately block the card through their bank and report to the police.
He said investigations into both cases are ongoing and all suspects will be charged in accordance with the law, adding that they are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.