The Niger State Police Command has arrested and paraded a job syndicate run by a couple, and three accomplices for allegedly defrauding over 50 persons of monies worth over N10 million, promising them fake employment at the National Examinations Council’s headquarters in Minna.

The syndicate, which was posing as NECO’s recruiting agents, was arrested at a hotel in Minna, Niger State, after a tip-off by the internal security network set up by NECO’s Registrar, Prof Ibrahim Wushishi.

Among those arrested are a 28-year-old woman, Patience Adamu, and her 48-year-old husband, Matthew Samson, residing in Minna. Others are 38-year-old Godwin Mathew, 35-year-old Emmanuel David and 29-year-old Peter Samuel, all residents of Kaduna, in Kaduna Sate.

According to the Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, Patience was arrested alongside her husband and three other suspects after a tip-off.

“On 20/05/2022 at about 1230hrs, based on a tip off that suspected syndicate of job scammers were sighted at a hotel in Minna, documenting some applicants for placement into the National Examination Council (NECO) Headquarters, Minna.

“On the receipt of this information, Police operatives attached to Intelligence Unit of the Command swung into action and arrested the following suspects: Patience Adamu,28 years of Talba Estate Kpakungu, Minna, Mathew Samson aged 48 years of same address, Godwin Mathew aged 35 years of Kaduna State, Emmanuel David aged 35 years of Kaduna State and Peter Samuel aged 29 years of Kaduna State,” he said.

Abiodun further explained that during interrogation, Patience confessed that she had contacted about ten unsuspecting members of the public since the year 2020 till date for a job replacement offer at NECO with a payment of N500,000 each.

“However, she claimed to have arranged a fake documentation for the victims as one of them were pressurising for the next stage of this job placement while she invited three other persons in conspiracy with her husband, Mathew Samson to carry out the fake documentation.

“She said that her intention was to raise money for business and to refund these victims after the business must have boomed. That she had no employment offer or any connection for job placement at NECO.

Meanwhile, at a press conference in Minna, where the alleged syndicate was paraded, Patience confessed to have collected over N10 million from her victims, the proceeds of which she used to purchase four landed property in Kaduna.

The mother of two denied having any links with NECO, adding that her intention was to refund the monies collected from her victims after starting her business, but for the threat that came on her team.

Speaking on the incident, the Spokesperson of NECO, Mr Azeez Sani, urged the public not to seek for NECO job through a third party, adding that if NECO is to employ, it would follow the normal channel which include making it public through advertisment.