The Rivers State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled a job racketeering syndicate that allegedly defrauded job seekers by advertising non-existent employment vacancies. The Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, disclosed this at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
According to Disu, operatives from the command, responding to a distress call from concerned residents, rescued 16 victims held captive by the syndicate during a raid in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area. The operation led to the arrest of one Chukwudi Okoli, who had been posing as an employee of Ojoseansel International Global Limited.
“Police operatives acted swiftly and raided a compound, where one Amiye Joseph and 15 other victims, comprising 13 males and two females, were rescued,” Disu said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that each victim had paid between N650,000 and N850,000 to the fraudulent company, which had falsely promised them jobs in the oil and gas industry with salaries purportedly paid in US dollars.
The syndicate was found to have operated by randomly selecting phone numbers, contacting potential victims, and introducing them to fake job opportunities. The victims were then invited to Port Harcourt for bogus interviews, after which they were detained in a facility and closely monitored.
The victims were also reportedly subjected to training sessions, during which they were taught how to lure others into believing in the fraudulent job offers with promises of earning $450 per week.
Items recovered from the gang’s operational base included mobile phones, laptops, television sets, generators, industrial fans, and office furniture.
The investigation into the syndicate’s activities is ongoing.
