The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken decisive action by apprehending an herbalist and 48 individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud. The arrests were made on charges related to conspiracy and obtaining under false pretense in Lokoja, Kogi State, as revealed in a statement released by the EFCC on Thursday.
According to the statement, the arrests took place on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, following credible intelligence, and the suspects were located at various spots in Lokoja. The herbalist, considered a spiritual mentor to internet fraudsters, was found in possession of various charms. The seized items include 10 high-end cars, two motorcycles, 11 laptops, 83 mobile phones, and additional mystical items.
All the suspects, who are males ranging from 17 to 34 years old, will undergo thorough investigations, and upon completion, they will be brought before the court to face charges. This development echoes a similar incident in February 2023 when the police command in Edo State arrested a 65-year-old herbalist among 22 individuals detained for offenses such as armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful assembly in the state.
