The Delta State Police Command has arrested and paraded 123 suspected internet fraudsters who were apprehended at an estate along the Warri-Sapele road in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson SP Bright Edafe stated that investigations revealed the suspects, who are mostly aged 17 and above, were lured from various states, including Kaduna, Ibadan, and Akwa Ibom, under false promises of training in forex trading and cryptocurrency.
Edafe explained that the suspects were recruited into a scheme called “Hustle Kingdom” (HK), where agents scouted young boys online and lured them with fake promises of wealth. Upon arrival, the boys’ phones were seized, and they were only given laptops. The operators severely restricted their movement and subjected them to harsh conditions.
He said, “123 suspected internet fraudsters were arrested at an estate where they were doing ‘Hustle Kingdom.’ The agents deceived boys as young as 17, promising to teach them forex trading and cryptocurrency. Once they arrived, they were tortured, had their clothes taken away, and were told they couldn’t quit.”
One of the victims from Kaduna managed to alert his mother using the laptop given to him by the operators. The mother contacted a military relative, which led to a raid on the location. Another victim, an Alfa who had studied Arabic and wanted to go to Cairo, Egypt, was also among those deceived. When he tried to leave, he was beaten and not allowed to quit.
The police advised parents to closely monitor their children and question any sudden appearance of unexplained wealth. “We should continue to monitor our children. We should also ask the right questions when our children come home with strange wealth,” SP Edafe warned.
One of the suspects, a 17-year-old named Gideon from Akwa Ibom, shared his experience. He said, “We were only allowed to use our phones on Sundays. We worked from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., trying to scam people online. We ate twice a day.”
