By Julius Peter
The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a syndicate allegedly involved in defrauding members of the public by impersonating the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), leading to the arrest of one suspect and an ongoing manhunt for the alleged principal culprit.
The development was disclosed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
According to the police, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence, Operations and Investigation Unit attached to the JAMB National Headquarters uncovered the syndicate following a petition submitted by the JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, on August 10, 2026.
The petition alleged criminal conspiracy, impersonation, identity theft and fraud perpetrated through the misuse of the Registrar’s identity.
Following approval from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the police launched an investigation aimed at identifying the individuals behind the fraudulent activities and bringing them to justice.
The investigation initially took operatives to Nasarawa and Katsina States, where individuals linked to the suspicious activities were traced.
However, police investigators subsequently established that the persons initially tracked in the two states were not members of the criminal network but unsuspecting victims who had themselves been defrauded by the syndicate.
The investigation revealed that the suspected fraudsters allegedly created fake social media accounts using the identity and name of the JAMB Registrar.
Through the accounts, the suspects allegedly presented themselves as officials or representatives of the Board and used the false identity to deceive members of the public under the guise of offering official JAMB-related services.
The police said the syndicate’s activities were uncovered through sustained intelligence gathering and painstaking analysis of the telephone numbers and bank account details allegedly deployed in executing the fraudulent scheme.
The digital and financial trails eventually led investigators to Anambra State, where operatives arrested one Nwogba Arinze.
According to the police, Arinze allegedly posed as the Personal Assistant to the JAMB Registrar as part of the scheme.
His arrest, the Force said, provided investigators with further information about the structure and operations of the suspected syndicate.
Suspect Allegedly Used Deceased Nephew’s Account ,Further investigation reportedly revealed that Arinze had allegedly used the bank account of his deceased nephew, identified as Edeh Chimezie Benedict, in an attempt to conceal his identity and frustrate efforts by law enforcement to trace the financial transactions.
The police said Arinze had been entrusted with the deceased’s account details and debit cards for the purpose of assisting with funeral arrangements conducted on July 31, 2026.
Investigators, however, allegedly discovered that the account was subsequently connected to the fraudulent activities under investigation.
Arinze was taken into police custody on August 27, 2026, and is currently assisting investigators with information that could lead to the arrest of other members of the suspected syndicate.
The Force said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the alleged principal suspect, identified as Nnabuife Nwekpa, whom investigators described as a close relative of Arinze.
According to the police, Nwekpa is currently at large, while operatives are intensifying efforts to locate and arrest him.
The police also said the investigation remains active, with the possibility of identifying and apprehending other individuals who may have participated in the alleged fraud.
The development underscores the growing sophistication of identity theft and online fraud, particularly where criminals exploit the names and identities of public officials and reputable government institutions to gain the confidence of unsuspecting members of the public.
By impersonating senior officials and creating fraudulent social media accounts, cybercriminals can make victims believe that they are dealing with legitimate government representatives.
The Nigeria Police Force has consequently urged members of the public to exercise greater caution when dealing with individuals claiming to represent government agencies or public officials through social media platforms.
The Force advised Nigerians to verify the authenticity of accounts, telephone numbers, payment requests and other online communications before divulging personal information or transferring money.
It further urged members of the public to promptly report suspicious online activities to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and other appropriate law-enforcement authorities.
The police stressed that members of the public should not assume that social media accounts bearing the names, photographs or official designations of prominent public officials are genuine without independent verification.
The Force said timely reporting remains essential in enabling law-enforcement agencies to trace digital footprints, freeze suspicious financial channels where appropriate and prevent criminals from defrauding additional victims.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating all forms of crime, including cyber-enabled fraud, impersonation and identity theft.
The IGP also reiterated the determination of the Force to protect members of the public and preserve the integrity of government institutions against individuals who seek to exploit official identities for criminal purposes.
The police said the investigation into the JAMB-related fraud case remains ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend Nwekpa and identify any other accomplices.
The Force assured Nigerians that it would continue to deploy intelligence-led policing, digital investigation and inter-agency collaboration in tackling emerging forms of criminality and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.
The police urged anyone who may have been contacted by the suspected fraudsters or fallen victim to the alleged scheme to provide relevant information to investigators, stressing that such information could assist in unraveling the full extent of the syndicate’s activities.
In a statement sign by CSP Ani Iniedu, Anipr Force Public Relations Officer Force Headquarters, Abuja September 9, 2026
