The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ekiti State Command, recently apprehended 14 suspected fraudsters accused of deceiving the public with false promises of employment.
The State Commandant of NSCDC, Agboola Sunday, disclosed that the syndicate, who specialized in offering fake job opportunities, was captured by the Counter Terrorists Unit of the command in Ado-Ekiti.
These suspects allegedly confined their victims in undisclosed locations within the state, exploiting them for money under the pretense of securing employment.
Sunday assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the matter.
He urged the public to use proper channels when seeking employment to avoid falling victim to criminal activities masquerading as job opportunities.
“We have before me syndicates that specialise in duping people through employment scams. They invite some people from other states and promise to give them employment. From there, they will kidnap and detain them.
“The case will be thoroughly investigated and make sure that the law takes its course. We will get to the root of this crime.
“To the public, I will advise them to make sure that if they are looking for employment, they should go to the right source. All these online are somehow dubious because you don’t know who is who. Let them know the company they want to apply to or the organisation so that they will not fall victim to all these criminals,” NSCDC commandant said.
During an interview with journalists, a victim named Ayala Favour revealed that he traveled from Ogbomosho to Ado-Ekiti in search of employment at a company called Quest Company, which he found out about through an agent on Facebook.
Favour explained that he submitted his details to the agent and paid N70,000 for a file and accommodation. However, upon arrival, the suspects allegedly restricted their communication with the outside world, confining them to the premises where they were lodged in the state.
He said, “I came from Ogbomosho to Ado-Ekiti. I met one of my friends on Facebook and I asked what they do for a living and he said he is working in a company called Quest.
“I sent my file details including NIN, passport and results. After the second day, they called me to say that my file had been approved. I went there and after that, I noticed that their work was not genuine.
“I have paid N70,000. They said N20,000 is used to submit files and N50,000 is for accommodation. I noticed that they don’t give us free hands to do anything. We can’t communicate with anyone.”
Some of the suspects claimed to be involved in selling products such as homewares and healthcare items.
They stated that their headquarters are located in various Asian countries, with their coordinator in Nigeria operating from Lagos.
“We are registered with CAC. The headquarters are in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Our coordinator is based in Lagos. We have never been given a job and we collect N20,000 from them as apartment fees.
“We met on Facebook and when he came, we explained the business to him. He said that he liked it and would find money to do it. Today, he said that his dad called him to come home. The money we collected is for the file,” the suspects said
