NSCDC Busts Phone Theft and Fraud Syndicate in Osun State

By Shola Aderinto, 

In Osun State, a syndicate of thieves and fraudsters had been terrorizing the community, stealing mobile phones and scamming unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned money. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Osun State Command had been tracking the syndicate for weeks, following a complaint from one of their victims.

The victim, a shop owner in Inisa, reported that two men had come to her shop, distracted her, and stolen her phone. She suspected foul play and immediately reported the incident to the NSCDC. The command swung into action, launching an investigation into the theft.

The investigation led the NSCDC to Kayode Owoseni, a 35-year-old man with a history of criminal activity. Owoseni had been convicted twice for similar offenses and was known to operate in the Osogbo area. He was arrested on July 1st, 2024, and taken into custody for questioning.

During his interrogation, Owoseni confessed to the crime, revealing that he had learned the act of pickpocketing from his friends and had been operating in the area for some time. He also revealed the identity of his accomplices, Olasunkanmi Adesina and Kehinde Bankole.

Adesina, a 42-year-old man, was arrested and found to be a member of the "Eta Fraternity" cult group. He confessed to using stolen phones to defraud unsuspecting members of the public through money rituals scams. He had been operating the scam for 15 years, working in collaboration with an accomplice known only as "JEEGUN".

The NSCDC also arrested Kehinde Bankole, a 32-year-old man who had been involved in the syndicate's activities. The three suspects were charged with stealing, impersonation, fraud, and conspiracy to defraud.

The Commandant of the NSCDC Osun State Command, Michael Adaralewa, commended his team for their diligent work in apprehending the suspects. He warned criminally minded individuals in the state to desist from their activities or face the consequences.

The arrest of the syndicate members brought relief to the community, who had been living in fear of their activities. The NSCDC's swift action sent a strong message to criminals in the state: crime will not be tolerated in Osun State.