A young woman has been apprehended in Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over allegations of using fake bank transfer alerts to defraud female business owners.
According to reports, the suspect allegedly targeted traders by selecting goods, presenting what appeared to be successful bank transfer notifications as proof of payment, and leaving with the items before the victims discovered that no money had been credited to their accounts.
The incident reportedly occurred in the Choba area of Port Harcourt, where several traders accused the woman of repeatedly using the same method to obtain goods without making actual payments.
Residents and traders who witnessed the incident apprehended the suspect before she could allegedly escape. She was subsequently handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the increasing use of fake bank transfer alerts by fraudsters to deceive business owners, particularly small-scale traders who rely on instant payment confirmations to complete transactions. Security experts have continued to advise merchants to verify that payments have been credited to their bank accounts before releasing goods to customers.
However, while the suspect in the Choba incident was handed over to law enforcement authorities, the development comes amid growing concerns over the rise in jungle justice against persons accused of theft and other offences across the country.
Unijos student murdered
One of the latest incidents occurred in Jos, Plateau State, where a 25-year-old University of Jos student, Ibrahim Pilasar Mbaya, popularly known as Ibee Mbaya, allegedly lost his life after being accused of stealing an iPhone 12.
According to the Plateau State Police Command, the deceased was allegedly assaulted by a group of persons instead of being handed over to the police for investigation. He was reportedly beaten into unconsciousness and later taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
Police investigations led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Rinji Fwanji, Emmanuel Newyear, and Nensemka Fwanji, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend others believed to have fled.
Investigators also linked one of the suspects to a viral video allegedly showing the victim being brutally assaulted with a wooden plank. Other videos circulating on social media purportedly showed the deceased tied up and subjected to prolonged torture before he eventually died.
The killing has sparked widespread outrage within the University of Jos community, prompting the University of Jos Alumni Association to demand a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, while insisting that everyone found culpable should face the full weight of the law.
Police condemned action
The Plateau State Police Command equally condemned the resort to jungle justice, stressing that no individual has the legal authority to assault or kill a suspect regardless of the allegation against them. The command urged members of the public to report suspected criminals to law enforcement agencies and allow due process to take its course.
The two incidents have renewed concerns over the dangers of taking the law into private hands. While crimes such as theft and fraud remain punishable under Nigerian law, legal experts and security agencies have consistently warned that suspects are entitled to fair investigation and trial, and that mob action often results in irreversible loss of innocent lives or unnecessary violence.
