Troops of the 4 Brigade Nigerian Army led by the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Ebenezer Oduyebo, have uncovered a massive crime and ritual syndicate’s hideout in Benin City, Edo State.
Acting on a tip-off, the troops stormed a building within First Bank Estate, called Awesome Garden, located along the Benin-Sapele By-Pass in Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the State, where they arrested 31 suspects and rescued victims of a bizarre cybercrime and ritual-related criminal enterprise.
Those arrested were handed over to the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further interrogation and prosecution.
Items recovered from the scene included a Toyota model vehicle, several smartphones, laptop computers, cash, a pot, fetish materials, and other incriminating items linked to ritual and cybercrime activities.
Already, preliminary investigations revealed that many of the suspects were lured to the location by the syndicate’s leader, identified as Mr. Marvin Osabhuoyen, who is currently on the run.
He was said to have promised his victims lucrative job offers abroad, only to force them into a web of criminal operations, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and cyber fraud.
Many of the victims were are from different parts of the country and had been detained in the building for periods ranging between one and two years without freedom of movement, living under fear and manipulation.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Oduyebo has commended the troops and other sister security agencies for their bravery, vigilance, and continued commitment to keeping Edo State free from criminal elements.
“The Brigade remains fully committed to its mission of ensuring safety and security for all residents of Edo State. This operation is a clear warning to criminal syndicates that their days are numbered,” he declared.
