The Ogun State Police Command has arrested three suspects accused of hacking into the WhatsApp account of the state’s Criminal Investigation Department head, Deputy Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni, and defrauding his contacts of over ₦1.1 million.
The suspects, identified as Tolani Jeremiah (31), Akande Suru (20), and Edwin Jatto (24), were apprehended in Edo State.
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, disclosed this while parading the suspects and others involved in various crimes at the command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Monday.
“The suspects hacked the WhatsApp account linked to DCP Bode Ojajuni’s phone number, 08034062773, and tricked his friends and family into transferring money,” Ogunlowo said.
Using the compromised account, the suspects reportedly requested financial assistance from the DCP’s contacts and funneled the funds into a Moniepoint account registered as Ichioma Ojo. According to Ogunlowo, the victims lost a total of ₦1,115,000 to the scam.
Recovered items included six mobile phones, such as a Redmi Android device, and other tools allegedly used to bypass WhatsApp’s security protocols via a Gmail account ([email protected]).
“The suspects confessed to their involvement and are members of a cybercrime syndicate targeting unsuspecting victims,” Ogunlowo revealed.
In a separate operation, the command also dismantled a child trafficking syndicate linked to a suspect known as Mama Faith, who is currently in custody at the Ibara Correctional Centre.
The police paraded ThankGod Taiwo (35), Patience Chikieze (54), and Oluyinka Folake (43) for their alleged involvement in abducting and selling children for illegal adoption.
Taiwo was arrested after abducting seven-year-old Mercy Akande, whom he sold to Chikieze for ₦650,000 at Ipaja Roundabout, Lagos. Mercy was later rescued unharmed.
“Chikieze admitted that the buyer rejected the child due to her age. She also confessed to buying and reselling other children for profit,” Ogunlowo stated.
Investigations revealed Chikieze had purchased a three-year-old boy, Mohees Daniel, for ₦250,000 and sold him for ₦3 million. She also acquired another child, David Jesulayomi, from Oluyinka for ₦1.5 million, intending to resell him.
Police recovered both children and fake adoption documents linked to Chikieze’s operations. The CP further disclosed that Chikieze used a WhatsApp group called “Prema Consult” to pose as a legal adoption facilitator.
“She lured unsuspecting adopters under the guise of legitimate adoption. Both she and her accomplices confessed to working under the instructions of Mama Faith,” Ogunlowo explained.
Since assuming office three weeks ago, Ogunlowo has vowed to clamp down on criminal activities in the state. He urged residents to assist law enforcement with credible intelligence to ensure a safer Ogun State.
“Let this serve as a warning to all criminals: the Ogun State Police Command will not tolerate illegal activities,” he emphasized.
