Police sources in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have confirmed to www.calitown.com that the now trending young man on social media, suspected to have stolen dozens of Automated Teller Machine, ATM, cards, has on interrogation revealed that he is from Cross River State.
Identified to www.calitown.com simply as Omini, from CR Central Senatorial District, his story broke on the internet after the police stepped in and effected his arrest following complaints the parents of a young lady, also identified to us as Vivian Emesaraonye Dimgba, made to the police after her mother’s ATM card was stolen and huge withdrawals made as well as payments for hotel accommodation.
Vivian wrote: “My mum was duped of 500k last night. She went to the ATM, tried to put her pin, it wasn’t working. She saw a young man standing behind her, and turned to him to complain or vent basically. Feigning concern, he asked to assist her try again. Being so trusting herself, she gave him the card. He put it, and told her the ATM card was stuck and that she needed to go inside the bank and tell them. She went to the security man, since the bank was already closed and did just that. By the time she came out, the man already left (sic). Oh, he told her he was a policeman. Fast forward to 12 midnight, she got her first transfer alert 300k. Then 100k…until there was only 30k left in the account. She got dressed, then drove to town with my dad, and made a police report. But they couldn’t do much, since they were not sure about the ATM terminal he made the transfer from. At about 1am, he made another transfer. But this time through a POS machine… Eastgate Hotel. Less than 15 minutes’ walk from my house. He paid for the room, and ordered food as well. We called back the police men, told them of our findings and they met us at the hotel in less than 30 minutes. They got into the hotel, checked the person who lodged in at the time the POS sent the alert. The print-out they had corresponded with my mum’s ATM card number. That was how we apprehended him with the girl he made the transfer of the first 300k to. She allegedly was meeting him for the first time yesterday, but they’ve been friends on Facebook for a while. We also recovered some ATM cards, which included my mum’s card , and the printout he used for the transactions. Anyway, they are both cooling their heels in the holding cell and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I must commend the squad for their timely intervention.”
While investigations are ongoing, several persons within Cross River State and beyond are believed to have contacted the police with information that may nail the suspect.