The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a pastor and five other syndicate for allegedly swindling unemployed youths in Ikot Ebok village, Eket in a guise of offering jobs to them in oil companies.
The pastor, simply identified as Rev. Akpan and the suspects were arrested at the premises of Qua Iboe Church along Ekpeyo Street, off Liverpool road Eket while conducting fake interviews as a ploy to defraud the 300 youths .
The youth leader of the community Mr . Ubong Edoho, who spoke to some journalists, said that he invited the police when a crowd of unemployed youths gathered in the church compound for a screening exercise for job opportunity in Agip oil company, Port Harcort.
Edoho explained that when he made more enquiries, it was discovered that the pastor and the syndicate have collected N32,000 from each person after they issued fake form to fill preparatory for departure to unknown offshore location for the job.
His words, “The incident happened here in the premises of Qua Iboe Church, Ekpeyo St , Ikot Ebok. We had intelligent information that there were some people in the Church compound defrauding some unemployed youths. I informed the police as I went to Eket police station with my friends and report to Police Surveillance Team.
“On enquiries, we discovered that they have collected N32,000 from each person on that ground. We informed other youth leaders in the area and resolved that this kind of fraudulent activity can not happen in our village and the police whisked them away to Eket police station where they were interrogated.”
Edoho said the syndicate claimed before the Divisional Police Officer in Eket that they were authorized by Agip Oil company to recruit personnel for work but failed to produce relevant documents to justify their claims.
” There was no originating document from Agip Oil company to show that they were working for the firm. I was with the DPO in his office in Eket and we could not find any paper to back up what they claimed and the police detained them,” he said
Edoho further disclosed that the syndicate had defrauded people at Afaha Eket, Ikot Ekpene and Eastern Obolo through their nefarious activities.
He wondered why people can use the name of church to commit such crime not minding the consequence.
In a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, Supol Odiko Macdon, said though he has not been briefed on the matter , the police would do thorough investigation to establish facts of the case and bring the culprits to book.
“I don’t have that information at my disposal as at now. However, if there is anything like that, ongoing , the police would leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of the matter.”
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