The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Biola Simon, who has been defrauding unsuspecting bank customers by giving them fake prophecies.
The suspect, a member of a syndicate operating in the Dopemu area of the state, was said to have been nabbed after a victim reported their activities to the police.
Punch reports that the Ibadan, Oyo State-born Simon, was arrested on Thursday, November 10, 2016, by the Dopemu Police Division, following complaints of swindling the victim of the sum of N150,000, while her accomplices slipped from the police.
A police source at the Dopemu Police Division narrated that Simon and members of her gang posed as prophets who gave fake prophecies to unsuspecting victims and in the process, dupe them of their money.
“In her statement, she confessed that the syndicate’s mode of operation was to lurk around bank premises, while her role was to accost a bank customer suspected to be with money.
The suspect explained that she would pretend that she was new in Lagos and asked for direction from the victim.
Simon would subsequently make shocking spiritual revelations about her victim, after which she would advise that a special prayer must be offered for the victim.
The next move was to take the victim to a nearby place where the three other accomplices were waiting and they would replace the money withdrawn by the victim with disposable papers, covered with a few naira notes.
A man who the suspect tried to swindle on Thursday of N150,000 raised the alarm, and a police patrol team in the area apprehended Simon.”
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, has confirmed the arrest of the suspect, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that the matter is investigated thoroughly and the suspect charged to court.
The next move was to take the victim to a nearby place where the three other accomplices were waiting and they would replace the money withdrawn by the victim with disposable papers, covered with a few naira notes.
A man who the suspect tried to swindle on Thursday of N150,000 raised the alarm, and a police patrol team in the area apprehended Simon.”
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, has confirmed the arrest of the suspect, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that the matter is investigated thoroughly and the suspect charged to court.
