August 1, 2021

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Central Business Districts (CBD), Mr. Olugbenga Olanrewaju, has advised members of the public to take extra security precautions when doing business within the Lagos Island and Ikeja Business Districts.

Olanrewaju gave the advice after arrest of a suspected fraudster specialising in hypnotising members of the public to withdraw money from their bank accounts using the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Cards.

He promised that his office will work closely with security operatives in bringing criminal elements within the business districts to book, warning residents in Ikeja and Lagos Island CBD to be wary of people hanging around banking premises and ATMs.

In his words, “A gang of suspected fraudsters operating around Asabi Cole Street, Agidingbi, Ikeja, and its environs was on Tuesday were smashed by operatives of the Lagos CBD, Ikeja zone”.

“One of the arrested suspects, Mr. Adekunle Ojo, who had already withdrawn N99,000 from the bank account of a victim detained beside Access Bank by four other suspected members of the gang. The others later drove off with the victim after realising that one of them had been arrested”, he added.

While informing that the arrested suspect confessed to their fraudulent activities during interrogation by the CBD operatives before he was handed over to the officers at the Alausa Police Station, the Special Adviser said the arrest was as a result of the painstaking surveillance executed at the CBD and environs by his office.

Olanrewaju said his office had been inundated by complaints from those who fell victims to the antics of the fraudsters, particularly on Ashabi Cole Street, who hypnotised their victims to gain access to their bank accounts through automated teller machines.

A victim, who pleaded anonymity, was able to identify the suspect arrested by CBD operatives as one of the people who dubiously made her withdraw N200,000 from her bank account last week.