The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has apprehended six individuals specializing in registering Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards with the identities of other Nigerians and selling them to criminals.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, presented the suspects at the command headquarters, revealing they were found with 1,100 registered SIM cards. The suspects are Ndubuisi Okeh, John Jock, Nafiu Tijani (a dispatcher), Nasiru Sulaiman, John Njoku, and Suleiman Musa.
Igwe stated that the suspects sold the SIM cards to kidnappers and other criminals for between N3,000 and N5,000.
Igwe said, “On May 29, 2024, at about 3:00 pm, a team of detectives from the State Intelligence Department led by ACP Mohammed S. Baba, acting on credible intelligence, lured and arrested six suspects namely: Ndubuisi Okeh, John Jock; Nafiu Tijani (a dispatcher); Nasiru Sulaiman; John Njoku and Suleiman Musa Who specialises in the sales of already registered sim cards to criminals who operate with other people’s identity to avoid being traced or tracked through their own details at the price rate of three to five thousand naira.”
He also noted that four different numbers could be registered using a single National Identity Number (NIN). Consequently, criminals use street SIM card vendors to obtain the details of unsuspecting residents who purchase and register SIM cards.
Igwe elaborated that the suspects use these vendors to acquire the National Identity Numbers and other details of innocent residents who patronize them.
He said, “It may interest you to know that four different numbers could be registered under a single NIN, hence, these criminals employ street sim card vendors to get the details of unsuspecting residents who buy sim cards and register at the same time.
“Over one thousand, one hundred already registered sim cards, three registration machines, and other gadgets were recovered from the suspects. The suspects have all confessed to the crime and will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.”
