Armed robber
By SAA-AONDO ADZEGEH, Abuja –
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) currently face additional dangers to lives and property from criminals and other shady characters targeting the theft of their National Identity Numbers (NIN) and vital personal details like Bank Verification Number (BVN) as well as vital passwords.
Investigations by NATIONAL ACCORD revealed that the favourite places of operation by the hoodlums are on deserted highways and quiet settlements on the outskirts of Abuja.
It was gathered that the criminals, mostly teenagers in their twenties, normally operate in three-man gangs riding on powerful motor bikes, who target their victims, especially young women and persons travelling alone or who appear vulnerable.
One middle aged man, who gave his name as Salisu told our reporter that he fell victim to the criminals recently.
Narrating his experience, Salisu, a business man, said he and his wife had fallen victim while in transit in a commercial tricycle popularly known as ‘Keke Napep’.
“I was in a ‘Keke Napep’ with my wife heading to Walbe. We had chartered the Keke because we were in a hurry to get to Walbe for an important meeting with one of my customers.”
Salihu said they were on a lonely stretch of the road when a fast moving motor bike carrying three young guys and which had obviously been trailing them, sped up and overtook the Keke.
“The bike slowed down as it overtook and forced our Keke to also slow down to a stop,” he narrated.
“The two guys on the bike jumped down and I suddenly noticed that they were holding short-short guns in their hands. ‘Your phone! Your phone!’, they shouted at us, pointing the guns at us.
“Shocked and afraid, me and my wife handed them our Android phones and they even collected the Keke driver’s small Techno phone before jumping on the bike and speeding off.”
Salifu disclosed that it was much later, after he and his wife noticed that their bank accounts had been emptied and that their National Identity Numbers had been blocked that they concluded that the thieves must have been after not only their money and their phones, but also their NIN and other personal details.
