The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man for fraudulently obtaining 18 bags of rice from a businessman to share with indigent people.
The suspect identified as Nnamani Joseph was said to have on February 14, 2024, Valentine’s Day, gone to the premises of a church (name withheld) in Ogui, Enugu suburb from where he called a businessman (names withheld) on the phone, requesting 18 bags of 25 kg rice valued at N400,000 with the pretence of wanting to use the same for charity to the church.
Believing him, the businessman, according to the police, supplied the rice and unsuspectingly followed the suspect to the bank to receive his payment through bank transfer.
It was gathered that while the businessman was waiting in the banking hall for the suspect to effect the payment, he secretly left the bank, went back to the church, and made away with the bags of rice to an unknown destination.
The man quickly reported the incident to the police in Ogui Division.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said that the suspect was arrested on February 20, 2024, at Emene where he had re-bagged and sold 10 bags at Orie Emene Market, Enugu.
Ndukwe said, “But for the swift response of police operatives serving in the Ogui Police Division of Enugu State Command, one Nnamani Joseph ‘m’, aged 45, would have successfully defrauded a businessman of 18 bags of rice valued at about N400,000.00, under the guise of buying and using the rice for charity at a church.
“The suspect, however, could not run or hide for so long, as the police operatives, upon receiving the report, embarked on an intelligence-driven investigation, which led to his arrest on February 20, 2024, at Emene, Enugu.
“Eight out of the 18 25 kg bags of rice were recovered from him, after he had re-bagged and sold the other bags at Oye Emene Market, Enugu.”
According to Ndukwe, the suspect and his accomplices will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
He, however, advised Enugu residents, particularly businessmen and women to always be security conscious to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.
