Recent developments have seen operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) apprehend two brothers for their alleged involvement in impersonating the corps’ FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, and other individuals on Facebook. The FCT NSCDC Commandant made this revelation during a press briefing at the Command’s Headquarters in Abuja.
It was recalled that in September 2023, Odumosu had raised an alert to notify the public about a deceptive Facebook account created in his name with the intention of defrauding unsuspecting citizens. Reports from victims who fell prey to the fraudulent activities carried out in his name prompted a manhunt for the perpetrators.
Following a thorough investigation, the authorities were able to apprehend Henry Odep, aged 34, and his younger brother Emmanuel Odep, aged 23, both hailing from Cross Rivers.
In his statement, Odumosu emphasized the necessity of distancing himself from the fraudulent Facebook account to prevent innocent Nigerians from being victimized by such fraudsters.
Subsequent to a relentless seven-month manhunt and a well-coordinated covert operation involving NSCDC personnel and collaboration with counterparts from Delta and Anambra Commands, the efforts finally paid off.
Emmanuel, upon being arrested, cooperated with the authorities leading to the capture of Henry, who was found in possession of the device used to operate the fake Facebook account.
Details emerged that Henry was behind the creation of the fake Facebook account bearing the name of Olusola Odumosu shortly after his appointment as the FCT Commandant in August 2023. Emmanuel further confessed his complicity in withdrawing funds sent to the Opay account by his brother using POS machines until they were apprehended by the officers.
The brothers admitted to engaging in fraudulent activities targeting unsuspecting victims through various methods, including the creation of bogus profiles of high-ranking officials. They also confessed to a similar scheme carried out in the name of late Helen Amakiri, who was an Assistant Commandant-General eight years back in 2016.
The Commandant revealed that the brothers had been involved in multiple cases of impersonation and fraud over the past eight years. Investigations cleared two other individuals, Amadi Chisom and Mrs. Okafor Evelyn, who were initially detained alongside the main suspects, as they were found not to be implicated in the cyber fraud.