The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, says it has arrested a couple in Akwa Ibom for scamming thousands of Nigerians and defrauding them of millions of naira.
The State Commandant of NSCDC in the state, Mr Eluyemi Eluwade, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Uyo.
Eluwade said the arrest was made on Monday, July 22, along IBB Avenue in Uyo following complaints from members of the public about the suspect’s fraudulent extortion of huge sums of money with a promise to offer them employment in the state civil service.
He said the suspects Blessing Ezekiel, aged 27 and her husband Joseph Ufot, who is 46, collected money from various persons with a promise to offer them employment.
The statement in parts, “Furthermore, the suspect, Ezekiel also used a fake NGO – Child Support Foundation, which she claimed was sponsored by UNICEF to register about 7, 000 children at N1,000 each for a supposed UNICEF children grant, which turned out to be a scam.
“Ezekiel claimed to be a Personal Assistant to one Dr Helen Akpan, who she claimed is an SSA to Akwa Ibom Governor on Special Duties.
“She also allegedly offered employment letters to hundreds of unsuspecting victims after they paid N4,800 but without salaries for months, which led them to question her project as a scam.”
Eluwade, who condemned the act as criminal to defraud unsuspecting persons in these hard times, appealed to job seekers to be wary of employment scams.
The state commandant reminded Nigerians that recruitment into any organisation in the country, government and private is free, advising that citizens should desist from paying for jobs.
He urged citizens seeking employment to visit government offices or check the websites of organisations to verify if they are recruiting and take the demand for money as a red flag.
The Commandant assured the victims that the suspects would be charged in Court, as soon as investigations were concluded.
NSCDC arrests couple for alleged job scam in Akwa Ibom
