Three notorious members of a crime syndicate that targets women and girls by pretending to be transporters and fun-seekers have been arrested by the Delta State Police Command.
Speaking at the Ughele A Division on Tuesday, November 26, one of the suspects identified as Vincent, admitted to the crimes and described how the gang lures their victims.
“We pretend like we are transporters; look for vulnerable young girls. When we pick them up, another gang member joins, and we drive to a lonely road or bush. We collect their phones, open their apps, transfer their money, and sometimes assault them," he confessed.
He revealed that they operate under two scenarios: approaching women at clubs and convincing them to join, or posing as drivers to unsuspecting women on the streets.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who paraded the suspects further revealed how they operate.
“They operate in two dimensions. One is that they pretend like they are transporters, look for vulnerable young girls. They don’t target men. They target young girls. Pretend like they want to carry them. They will carry them as passengers," the PPRO explained.
"When they get to about 100 metres away, another of their gang members will be waiting. They will now enter and they will now put the lady in their middle, drive them to a lonely road, at times to the bush, collect their phone, enter their mobile app, transfer all the money they have, collect their phones. At times, they will r@pe these ladies.
“We have one of the victims with us, though she’s scared and she does not want to talk, and you know we cannot compel her to talk."
Explaining further, Edafe said; “They go to clubs, carry runs girls, dance and drink with them, negotiate prices and take them out pretending that they are going to the hotel, they later divert these young girls to the bush, rob them, transfer all their money from their bank accounts and r@pe them."
The police also arrested a woman who allegedly buys stolen wigs from the gang.
The woman admitted to purchasing five wigs from one of the suspects, claiming she was unaware of source.