Police Arrest Dismissed Soldier Over N920,000 PoS Fraud in Niger

The Niger Police Command arrested a dismissed soldier, Michael Musa, for a series of PoS frauds amounting to over 920,000 Naira. Reports indicate he impersonated a soldier in multiple theft cases. More victims are reportedly coming forward amid ongoing investigations.

The Niger Police Command has announced the arrest of a dismissed soldier connected to a series of Point of Sale (PoS) fraud incidents. The details were shared on Tuesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement made in Minna. This alleged fraud was brought to their attention from a magistrate court after multiple victims lodged complaints.

The investigation began on May 27, when the police received reports concerning criminal breaches of trust and theft. Three victims reported that on May 12, a man impersonating a soldier visited a PoS shop near Musa Bello Primary School in Bida and deceitfully obtained 120,000 Naira before fleeing.

Subsequent incidents have followed, with the same individual, dressed in military camouflage, reportedly extorting 300,000 Naira at a PoS facility in Kataeregi on May 23, and later stealing 500,000 Naira from a shop along Mandela Road on May 29. The police were able to track down the suspect, identified as Michael Musa, who resides on Mandela Road in Minna, through technical intelligence gathering methods.

During questioning, Musa, who was found in uniform, confessed to the fraudulent activities and claimed to have been dismissed from military service in 2022 while stationed in Benin, Edo State. The police have indicated that their investigation is ongoing, with more victims coming forward to report similar fraud incidents connected to Musa.

The arrest of the dismissed soldier highlights the ongoing battle against fraud in Niger State, particularly involving impersonation of military personnel. With three significant cases linked to him, authorities are urging more victims to step forward. The police continue to investigate the broader implications of this case.

Original Source: punchng.com