The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a syndicate allegedly specializing in ATM card theft and fraud, recovering 16 ATM cards belonging to different banks and individuals. The suspects, identified as Timilehin Akinola, 39, Peter Ojo, 46, and Ademola Akinware, 35, were arrested on Saturday, August 8, 2026, by operatives of the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Ado-Ekiti.
Arrest Details and Recovery
The spokesperson for the command, SP Sunday Abutu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. He said the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence about their presence at the ATM gallery of Wema Bank, Okesa Branch, Ado-Ekiti. The command said its RRS operatives were immediately deployed to the area, but the suspects, who were riding a TVS motorcycle, attempted to escape upon sighting the police.
The operatives reportedly pursued the suspects and intercepted them in the Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti, where a search conducted on them led to the recovery of 16 ATM cards belonging to different banks and individuals.
Alleged Modus Operandi
The police said preliminary investigation showed that the suspects allegedly specialized in hijacking and swapping ATM cards from unsuspecting members of the public at ATM points within bank premises. The suspects were also alleged to have subsequently used the stolen cards to fraudulently withdraw money from the victims’ bank accounts.
Investigation and Public Advisory
The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Michael Falade, directed that the investigation be intensified to identify other members of the alleged syndicate and determine the full extent of their activities. The command urged members of the public to remain vigilant when using ATM facilities and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
