By Abigail Philip David
The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended three suspects for hacking into the WhatsApp account of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bode Ojajuni, the head of the state’s Criminal Investigation Department, and defrauding his friends and family of over ₦1.1 million.
Commissioner of Police Lanre Ogunlowo disclosed this on Monday while parading the suspects, alongside others involved in various crimes, at the command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
The suspects, identified as Tolani Jeremiah (31), Akande Suru (20), and Edwin Jatto (24), were arrested in Edo State. They allegedly hacked into DCP Ojajuni’s WhatsApp account and sent messages to his contacts, soliciting financial assistance.
Ogunlowo explained, “The suspects hacked the WhatsApp account linked to GSM number 08034062773 belonging to DCP Bode Ojajuni. Using this account, they deceived the victim’s friends and family into transferring funds to a Moniepoint account, defrauding them of ₦1,115,000.”
Police recovered six mobile phones, including a Redmi Android device and other gadgets used in the hacking operation. Investigations revealed the suspects used a Gmail account (akandesuru342@gmail.com) to bypass WhatsApp’s security protocols.
The suspects confessed to the crime and were identified as members of an internet fraud syndicate targeting unsuspecting individuals.
Child Trafficking Syndicate Busted
In a separate operation, the police arrested members of a child trafficking ring allegedly led by a suspect known as Mama Faith, currently in custody at the Ibara Correctional Centre.
Among those paraded were ThankGod Taiwo (35), Patience Chikieze (54), and Oluyinka Folake (43). Taiwo was arrested after abducting a seven-year-old girl, Mercy Akande, whom he sold to Chikieze for ₦650,000 at Ipaja Roundabout, Lagos.
Chikieze, apprehended on December 29 in Lafenwa-Itele, led police to her residence, where the child was rescued unhurt. Chikieze admitted that her buyer rejected the child due to her age. Further investigations revealed she had previously bought a three-year-old boy, Mohees Daniel, for ₦250,000 and sold him for ₦3 million.
She also allegedly purchased another child, David Jesulayomi, from Folake for ₦1.5 million, intending to sell him for profit. Both children were rescued, and fake adoption documents issued by Chikieze were recovered.
Chikieze reportedly used a WhatsApp group named *Prema Consult* to lure unsuspecting individuals seeking legal adoptions. “She and her accomplices confessed to working for Mama Faith, who orchestrated these illegal operations,” Ogunlowo said.
CP Issues Warning
Assuming office just three weeks ago, CP Ogunlowo warned criminals in Ogun State to desist from unlawful activities or face severe consequences. He also urged residents to support the police with timely intelligence to combat crime effectively.
