The Police Command in Plateau says it has uncovered an internet fraudster hideout in the Agingi community, Rukuba Road, Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Emmanuel Adesina, the Commissioner of Police in the state, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.
He noted that the command had also detained 11 suspects in connection with the criminal act.
He explained that two suspected internet fraudsters had trafficked and confined nine boys, largely secondary school leavers, in a building.
He further explained that the suspected fraudsters were teaching the young boys how to defraud innocent citizens using various means.
“The suspected fraudsters who are both 23 years of age, confined these young boys, largely secondary school graduates, to a secluded residence.
“They locked the boys up, seized their phones, and taught them how to masterfully defraud people through romance scams and other cyber-related frauds.
“They forced the boys to go into the internet and continue to defraud would-be victims, and in the event that they refused to cooperate, the ring leader beat them mercilessly with a horsewhip.
“Upon receipt of this information, we immediately mobilised our men, raided the hideout and arrested 11 suspects, including the two principal suspects,” he said.
The commissioner also said that investigations were currently ongoing, insisting that other members of the criminal group, still at large, would be arrested.
Adesina said that the command had detained eight other suspects for alleged kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and illegal possession of firearms, amongst others.
