By Bukola Olamona

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) have apprehended one Dauda Samuel, 28, for allegedly impersonating a senior police officer, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Frank Mba, to run a fake recruitment scheme targeting unsuspecting job seekers.

The suspect, who was arrested in Panda Village, Nasarawa State, was said to have cloned the identity of DIG Mba, currently in charge of Training and Development, to defraud desperate Nigerians through bogus police recruitment advertisements on Facebook.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Saturday, disclosed that the arrest followed numerous complaints lodged by members of the public.

He explained that Samuel created fake Facebook profiles using the name and photograph of DIG Frank Mba, which he deployed to lure victims into parting with their hard-earned money under the guise of facilitating their enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force.

“He has voluntarily confessed to the crime and is currently assisting investigators with valuable information,” Adejobi said.

The police, according to the statement, are currently analysing the suspect’s digital footprints in a bid to identify other victims and any possible collaborators involved in the fraudulent scheme.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a stern warning to cybercriminals, urging them to desist from criminal activities or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

The IGP further enjoined Nigerians to exercise caution and verify information received online, particularly those that appear too good to be true, to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.