The Nigerian Police Force said it has apprehended a five-man gang of fake journalists.
It said the fake journalists operate by gate-crashing into important events with the mission to steal expensive phones and money.
Identified as the leader of the gang is a 43-year-old Musa Auwalu, from Nasarawa LGA of Kano, who has reportedly built a mansion from the proceeds of the crime.
This revelation was made in a statement issued by Force PPRO, CSP Jimoh Moshood on Friday.
The names of other gang members appeared as Kolawole Akinbode, 50, from Ogun Central LGA of Ogun state; 53-year-old Umar Tahir Abba, from Mubi of Adamawa state; 55 year-old Abdulahi Muhammed from Gudunfulani, LGA of Bauchi state and 60 year-old Muhammad sale from Ngogo, LGA of Kano state.
The statement said, “The gang leader has built a house in Kano from the huge foreign currencies he stole during a wedding of a Very Important Personality last year in Abuja.
“The Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team trailed and arrested the above mentioned suspects after complaints of stolen phones from important personalities who attended a prominent wedding in Abeokuta, Ogun State on the 8th July, 2017.
“They were arrested in different states of the Federation namely: Ogun, Edo, Abuja and Kano States. The exhibits listed above were recovered from them.
“The house built in Kano State from the huge foreign currencies the gang leader stole during a wedding of a Very Important Personality last year in Abuja has been identified.
“The suspects confessed to the crime and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the offence.
“The suspects confessed further that they specialise in impersonating journalists in order to gain access into venues of VIPs events/occasions to steal Handsets, Money and defraud high profile persons and unsuspecting members of the public at the venues of events in major cities in the country.
“Investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large. All suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.”
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