Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, in Benin City led by the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Ebenezer Oduyebo have uncovered a massive crime and ritual syndicateโs hideout in Benin City, Edo State.
Acting on a tip off the troops stormed a building within First Bank Estate, called Awesome Garden, located along the Benin-Sapele By-Pass in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, where they arrested 31 suspects and victims of a bizarre cybercrime and ritual-related criminal enterprise.
Those arrested are already with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Edo State Command,for further interrogation and prosecution.
Items recovered from the scene include a Toyota vehicle, several smartphones, laptops, cash, a pot of shrine, fetish materials, and other incriminating valuables linked to ritual and cybercrime activities.
Already preliminary investigations reveal that many of the suspects lured to the location by the syndicateโs leader, identified as Mr. Marvin Osabhuoyen, who is currently on the run. He is said to have promised his victims lucrative job offers abroad, only to force them into a web of criminal operations including kidnapping, armed robbery, and cyber fraud.
Many of the victims as it were are from different parts of the country and had been detained in the building for periods ranging between one and two years without freedom of movement, living under fear and manipulation.
Meanwhile Brigadier General Oduyebo has commended the troops and other collaborating security agencies for their bravery, vigilance, and continued commitment to keeping Edo State free from criminal elements.
โThe Brigade remains fully committed to its mission of ensuring safety and security for all residents of Edo State. This operation is a clear warning to criminal syndicates that their days are numbered,โ he declared.
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