NEWS DIGEST- Residents of Minna, the capital of Niger State, have been left in a state of shock and fear as armed robbers have adopted a sophisticated method to carry out their criminal activities. These audacious criminals have begun employing Point point-of-sale machines to rob unsuspecting victims during the cover of night.
Reports gathered by City & Crime reveal that during their operations, the robbers forcibly confiscate ATM cards and coerce victims into revealing their PINs. They then proceed to carry out unauthorized transfers from the victims’ bank accounts.
Additionally, they rob their victims of their mobile phones, leaving them not only financially depleted but also without a means of communication.
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One victim, Yakubu Suleiman, residing in the Tunga Area in Minna, shared his terrifying ordeal with our correspondent. Suleiman recounted the day armed robbers invaded his home, depriving him of his hard-earned possessions.
“They first seized our phones before producing a PoS machine and demanding my ATM card,” he recalled. Overwhelmed by fear, Suleiman handed over his card, which the robbers promptly inserted into the machine. They then coerced him into revealing his PIN, successfully transferring a staggering sum of N50,000 from his account before vanishing into the night.
Not stopping at one house, these brazen criminals moved on to adjacent residences. Suleiman revealed that from his neighbor’s account alone, they made off with a considerable sum of N200,000.
“My neighbor possessed multiple accounts, but the robbers specifically requested the ATM card associated with the account holding N200,000,” Suleiman explained. These tech-savvy thieves meticulously examined their victims’ account balances before executing their illicit money transfers.
The mere thought of resisting or challenging them proved too daunting, as their threatening display of machetes served as a constant reminder of the danger.
The emergence of this new modus operandi has left the residents of Minna feeling vulnerable and wary, unsure of when or where the next attack may occur. The usage of POS machines in such a criminal manner highlights the adaptability of these robbers and their ability to exploit modern advancements for their nefarious deeds.
Authorities in Minna are now facing the challenge of combating these technologically proficient criminals, ensuring the safety and security of the city’s residents. The residents themselves have been urged to remain vigilant, take necessary precautions, and promptly report any suspicious activities to the police.
As the authorities intensify their efforts to apprehend the perpetrators, the people of Minna hope for a swift resolution to this unprecedented wave of crimes that has shaken their peaceful city.
