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By Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi Police Command has arrested eight suspected cultists in Itobe, Ofu Local Government Area, and three suspected members of a fraudulent ATM card trading syndicate in Idah, recovering 59 ATM cards and other items in separate operations.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Nezir Bello Kankarofi, disclosed this during a press conference held at the command headquarters in Lokoja on Wednesday.
He said the arrests followed intelligence gathering and prolonged surveillance by police officers.
He said the operations are part of ongoing efforts to address violent crime, financial fraud and other criminal activity across the state.
According to the commissioner, eight male suspects were arrested on October 17, 2026, at around 5.45pm, when officers from Itobe Division, in collaboration with local auxiliary forces and community leaders, raided a location behind Government Secondary School, Itobe.
The suspects were identified as Mutari Ahmed, 26; Mohammed Tairu, 21; Audu Moses Yahaya, 27; Pietro Vincenzo, 28 years old; Progress Aminu, 21; La Sapienza Friday, 9pm; Gabriel Clistere, 22 years old; and a 14 year old boy.
During the operation, police recovered two TVS motorcycles, an ax and a cutlass.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had gathered to appoint a leader for a local sectarian group. Some of them allegedly admitted to belonging to the Aro-Baga Vikings and Aiye brotherhoods and provided information on other people linked to their activities.
Kankarofi said the arrests were significant in light of intelligence reports warning of possible clashes between rival cult groups in Itobe and Ejule communities.
He added that the Command has strengthened security measures to prevent violence, protect residents and commuters, and address threats of retaliation against personnel and security facilities.
The case was transferred to the Violent Crime Response Unit for further investigation, including efforts to arrest fleeing suspects, identify accomplices and establish the full extent of the groups’ activities.
The commissioner warned that the police will not tolerate sectarianism or any other criminal activity, stressing that the Command has no relationship with sectarians or other criminal elements.
He urged residents of Itobe, Ejule and nearby communities, as well as commuters traveling along the Itobe-Anyigba road, to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or threats to the nearest police station.
In a separate operation, police arrested three suspected members of a fraudulent ATM card exchange organization in Idah on October 20, 2026, at around 9.30am.
The suspects were identified as Philip Akiola, 50; Ojo Thomas, 56; and Abdulrauf Suleiman, 48.
Kankarofi said their arrest followed prolonged surveillance initiated after a victim reported on May 19, 2026, that his ATM card had been swapped, resulting in the loss of ₦1.5 million from his bank account.
Police officers allegedly recovered 59 ATM cards belonging to different banks and a vehicle allegedly used by the suspects.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the syndicate used a coordinated distraction technique to target unsuspecting ATM users.
According to police, one member of the group observed the victim enter his personal identification number (PIN) and identify his bank card, while another distracted the victim.
The suspects then allegedly swap the victim’s card and use the captured card and PIN to withdraw money or access funds in the victim’s account.
The commissioner said further investigations suggest the syndicate has been involved in the alleged fraud for more than a year.
He added that the suspects had identified an individual known as Sunday, who is currently abroad, as the person who introduced them to the program.
Police said the syndicate mainly targeted ATM users at First Bank, Union Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) branches within its area of operation.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lokoja, for further investigation.
The Commissioner advised bank customers to exercise caution when using ATMs, warning them not to expose their PINs or accept unsolicited assistance from strangers.
He also urged ATM users to make sure they retrieve their cards before leaving the machines.
Anyone who suspects their card has been swapped should contact their bank immediately to block the card and report the incident to the police, he added.
Kankarofi assured residents that investigations into both cases are ongoing and that further developments will be communicated if necessary.
He reiterated that all suspects will be dealt with in accordance with the law and will remain innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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