The Edo State Police Command has apprehended a 29-year-old ATM thief, Adetunji Adesina, who confessed to stealing N678,000 from his recent victim, Ehitomwan Aghama. Adetunji was found in possession of 10 ATM cards from various banks. He revealed that he encountered Aghama at an ATM facility of a new generation bank in Sapele Road, Benin City.
According to the suspect, he simulated a genuine ATM transaction and diverted his victim’s attention by intentionally dropping his phone on the ground. Adetunji narrated, “My name is Adetunji Adesina, I am from Oshogbi in Osun State. I encountered Aghama at the ATM machine of the bank (name withheld) in Sapele Road. I feigned the need to use the ATM machine and deliberately dropped my phone on the ground. Out of sympathy, he tried to assist me with the phone. I then covertly initiated a cardless transaction and removed his ATM card while he sought help from the bank staff, unaware of my actions. Subsequently, I obtained his ATM pin number under the pretense of aiding him. I later withdrew 678,000.00 from his account using both the ATM and POS (Point of Sales) before my apprehension by the Police.”
Aghama, in a statement to the press, expressed astonishment upon discovering that N20,000 had been illicitly withdrawn from his account after reporting his ATM card as stuck in the machine. He disclosed that the suspect unlawfully withdrew N600,000, which had been transferred into his account a week later by his overseas-residing brother, as he failed to block the ATM card.
Aghama was apprised of the situation by the police subsequent to the suspect’s arrest during a nocturnal patrol.