Chinedum Elekwachi
Police have arrested six suspects for allegedly hiring sick persons to beg for alms in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The suspects were arrested by Joint Security Team comprising personnel from Oba Divisional Police Headquarters and Anambra Vigilante Operatives who raided an uncompleted building.
A statement by the Command spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, says the suspects would be charged on conclusion of investigations.
The statement reads, “The suspects were arrested on April 16, 2025 at 6.30 pm during a raid in an uncompleted building at Isu village, Oba.
The suspects include three females – Doris Basil (28 years), Susan Monday (27) and Ogechi Okoro also 27.
Others are Peter Ezedike aged 38, as well as Solomon Sunday and Kenneth Achi each of whom are 29 years old.
“The Operatives also recovered six mobile phones and N82,400 in denominations of N50, N100 and N200 notes,” the statement says.
“They took in safe custody four ill persons who from appearance are suffering from brain tumour, breast cancer, and other terminal sicknesses.
“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 Police Commissioner quoted Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act which forbids obtaining property by false pretense, also known as “419 fraud”.
“It is a felony that carries a potential penalty of three years imprisonment”.
The Commissioner expressed concern about declining moral decadence to the point of taking undue advantage of sick persons.
“He further directs the immediate interrogation of the relatives of those sick persons to ascertain their culpability,” the statement adds.
