RismadarVoice Reporters
October 21, 2026
The Kogi State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in separate operations targeting alleged cult activities and automated teller machine (ATM) card-swapping fraud in different parts of the state.
The arrests involved eight suspected cult members apprehended in Itobe, Ofu Local Government Area, and three suspected ATM fraudsters arrested in Idah.
According to the police, the operation against suspected cult members was carried out on October 17, 2026, following intelligence about a gathering behind Government Secondary School, Itobe.
Operatives of the Itobe Police Division, working alongside local security volunteers and community leaders, reportedly raided the location where the suspects were allegedly preparing to appoint a leader for a local cult group.
The eight suspects, including a 14-year-old boy, were arrested during the operation.
Police recovered two TVS motorcycles, an axe and a cutlass.
Preliminary investigations allegedly linked some of the suspects to the Aro-Baga Vikings and Aiye confraternities.
The command said the arrests followed intelligence reports about possible clashes between rival groups in Itobe and Ejule, prompting additional security measures to prevent violence.
The case has been transferred to the Violent Crime Response Unit for further investigation.
In a separate operation on October 20, police arrested three men suspected of operating an ATM card-swapping syndicate in Idah.
The suspects were identified as Philip Akiola, 50; Ojo Thomas, 56; and Abdulrauf Suleiman, 48.
Police said the arrests followed investigations into a complaint lodged in May by a victim who allegedly lost ₦1.5 million after his ATM card was swapped.
During the operation, officers recovered 59 ATM cards belonging to different banks and a vehicle allegedly used by the suspects.
Investigators alleged that members of the syndicate targeted bank customers by secretly observing their personal identification numbers before distracting them and exchanging their ATM cards.
The suspects allegedly used the stolen cards and obtained PINs to withdraw money from victims’ accounts.
Police said investigations were ongoing to identify additional victims, determine the extent of the suspected fraudulent activities and apprehend possible accomplices.
The command advised residents to shield their PINs during transactions, reject unsolicited assistance at cash machines and immediately contact their banks if they suspect their cards have been exchanged.
It also urged residents of Itobe, Ejule and surrounding communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
All 11 individuals remain suspects, and the allegations against them have not been established by a court.
