Metro
Police arrests Abuja businessman who exploit POS operators
Ibrahim Mahmud, a 32-year-old businessman, has been arrested by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Abuja for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated Point of Sale (POS) scam.
Mahmud, a Civil Engineering graduate, was arrested after a detailed investigation which followed the swapping of a POS machine at a shop in Karshi last December.
The suspect allegedly used an advanced hacking tool to transfer ₦1 million from an unsuspecting victim’s account; a development that has further exposed the weaknesses in the country’s digital payment systems.
Mahmud was alleged to have walked into the POS shop of Odo Hilary, a popular business operator at Karshi, posing as a customer.
While Odo was processing the transaction, Mahmud who had engaged him in a conversation in order to distract him, swapped the POS machine with an identical one he smuggled into the shop.
Unaware of the swap, Odo continued his daily business only to notice by evening that something was amiss. He decided to check the transaction records and discovered that he had been locked out of his system.
Alarmed, he inspected the device and realised, to his dismay, that his POS machine had been replaced.
Odo immediately reported the incident to the Karshi Police Station, which escalated the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja.
Detectives assigned to handle the case commenced investigation and swiftly traced a fraudulent N1,000,000 transaction with half of the million transferred to one Abdulsalam Abdulsamad, a long time acquaintance of Mahmud.
It was discovered that the suspect funneled the remaining N500,000 through multiple bank accounts which made recovery difficult.
As the investigation progressed, forensic experts at the FCT Command looked into Mahmud’s digital footprints and discovered his elaborate fraudulent activities.
It was discovered that Mahmud’s small clothing business in Karshi was merely a front as he was allegedly neck-deep into electronic fraud, targeting POS vendors across the city.
Armed with irrefutable evidence, the police launched a manhunt for Mahmud and apprehended him on January 21.
The police subsequently arrested Abdulsamad for allegedly receiving proceeds of crime, laundering the money and requesting for his share, knowing full well the N500,000 sent to him was stolen.
It was gathered that Mahmud initially denied all the allegations against him but surrendered and confessed after the police presented evidence.
Mahmud admitted to the police that he used a hacking tool called ‘Ghost App’, to scan POS machines and obtain their security credentials.
“With Ghost App, Mahmud could steal account details, bypass PIN verification and initiate unauthorised transactions.
“He admitted to repeating this scam multiple times, making POS business operators his primary target,” a source said.
The Nation gathered that the two suspects were charged with fraud, unauthorised access to banking data and multiple cybercrime-related offences by the police.
Reacting to the development, the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) warned that law enforcement agents were actively tracking digital fraudsters and working with cyber-security experts to dismantle underground hacking tools like Ghost App.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, assured business owners that stricter security measures would be introduced to protect electronic transactions from similar cyber fraud attempts.
“This case serves as a wake-up call for all POS vendors and digital merchants in Nigeria. Cybercriminals are evolving, but so are we.
“We are committed to tracking, arresting and prosecuting those who exploit digital payment systems,” Disu said.
The police boss advised business owners to always inspect their POS devices to be sure they have not been tampered with; enable instant transaction alerts on all accounts; regularly change PINs and security codes, as well as remain cautious of distractions during customer interactions.
Three persons, two confirmed to be from the same family, are feared drowned in a boat mishap in Niger State.
The incident occured in Lapai Local Government Area of the state.
Vanguard gathered that the boat was overloaded with over 200 bags of rice and capsized about 9p.m., on the fateful day as a result of heavy windstorm.
While some claimed that many people drowned during the incident, a source confirmed that only three persons travelled in the boat because the boat was already overloaded and that they all drowned.
It was further gathered that the bags of rice were purchased in Lapai council and were being ferried to Lokoja, Kogi State for sale.
The source said: “The boat was overloaded with bags of rice from our area-Lapai thereby occupying all available spaces in the canoe. Two of those who went on the journey are of the same parents and believed to have most of the bags of rice being transported for sale.
“The bags of rice are more than 200 and the storm which started on their way must have also contributed to the sudden accident.”
Public Relations Officer, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, Hussaini Ibrahim, when contacted said the agency was yet to get details of the incident and promised to issue a statement later.
Corpses of those feared dead were yet to be recovered at press time.
The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a Herbalist identified as Murtala Musa, over the death and mutilation of an 11-year-old boy in Kodomun village, Demsa Local Government Area.
SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, Police Public Relations Officer in a statement said the incident was reported to the police in Demsa on the 13th of April, 2025, by the Village Head of Kodomun and one Fancy Alifas, the Mother of their Victim.
“She reported that her son, Yangapwa David, aged 11, was taken to the said herbalist for treatment but unfortunately died while in his custody.”
According to her, arrangements were made to convey the body home, during which time the corpse was left in the herbalist’s room.
Shockingly, upon her return, she discovered that her son’s left eye had been removed.
“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives swiftly visited the scene and arrested the suspect.”
The Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command, *CP Dankombo Morris assured members of the public that the Command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice is served.
The suspect remains in custody as the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, has been detailed to conduct a discreet investigation.
The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the death of a man identified simply as Peter, who was killed by a mob in Bauchi metropolis over allegations of dog theft.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Thursday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Ahmed Wakili.
According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on April 9, 2025, and involved a mob assault on two individuals accused of stealing a dog.
Wakili said the Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into what he described as an “egregious act of jungle justice.”
The second victim, identified as Dokagk Danladi, aged 38, was also attacked by a group of youths in a secluded area behind Lushi. He sustained severe machete wounds to the head and was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
Peter, whose surname is yet to be identified, was found at the scene and was confirmed dead by medical personnel.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area has led a team of detectives to the crime scene to gather evidence and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
CP Aliyu condemned the act, describing it as barbaric and a threat to the nation’s legal framework. He warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.
“No individual has the authority to brutalize a suspect. Anyone apprehended for any alleged crime should be handed over to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution,” the Commissioner stated.
He appealed to the public to remain calm and cooperate with the police by providing relevant information that could aid the investigation.
“The Command is resolute in its pursuit of justice and is committed to ensuring that all those involved in this heinous act are brought to book,” Aliyu added.
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