Six members of a syndicate that specializes in hiring sick persons for begging have been arrested by security operatives in Anambra State.
The suspects are Doris Basil ‘f’ (28), Peter Ezedike ‘m’ (38), Susan Monday ‘f’ (27), Ogechi Okoro ‘f’ (27), Solomon Sunday ‘m’ (29) and Kenneth Achi ‘m’ (29).
A statement by the Anambra State Police Command spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 6.30 pm during a raid in an uncompleted building at Isu village, Oba.
Items recovered from the suspects include six mobile phones and the sum of ₦82,400, in ₦50, ₦100 and ₦200 denominations.
Four persons who appeared to be suffering from brain tumour, breast cancer, and other terminal sicknesses were rescued from the syndicate.
“The operatives also provided first aid for the sick persons and sought higher intervention for their treatment and safe return to their various homes,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has expressed concern over the moral decay of individuals who take undue advantage of sick persons.
Orutugu noted that Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act deals with obtaining property by false pretense, also known as ‘419 fraud’.
“It is a felony that carries a potential penalty of three years imprisonment,” he warned.
The CP further directs the immediate interrogation of the relatives of those sick persons to ascertain their culpability.
