A sophisticated syndicate of fraudsters operating a multi-million naira syndicate across Kogi State has thrown civil engineers, site managers, and building material vendors into absolute panic, prompting an emergency security alarm from law enforcement authorities.
The Kogi State Police Command raised the alarm following a string of high-profile financial swindles where unsuspecting victims were duped of massive sums running into millions of naira through fake school, hotel, and commercial development projects.
Revealing the details of the syndicate’s modus operandi, Police Public Relations Officer ASP Saliu Afusat Oyiza disclosed that the fraudsters routinely target active building sites, secretly taking high-resolution photographs and videos of genuine ongoing projects. Armed with the stolen media, the impostors approach established civil engineers, presenting themselves as wealthy property owners or lead contractors ready to kick off major structural works.
Once credibility is established, the deceitful operative requests the engineer to recommend a major supplier for bulk quantities of cement and structural materials. Contact is then made with the vendor to ship large consignments to a designated warehouse or dummy site under the promise of payment upon arrival.
In a dramatic twist, while the truckload of cement is en route, the tricksters simultaneously locate a desperate prospective buyer in the immediate vicinity, offering the incoming consignment at a heavily discounted rate. Upon delivery, the buyer, operating under the impression that the deal is legitimate, transfers millions of naira directly into a bank account controlled by the criminal entity.
The moment the credit alert hits the illicit account, the fraudster instantly cuts off all lines of communication and vanishes, leaving the distressed material supplier and the deceived buyer stranded at the site to realize they have both fallen victim to a carefully engineered scam.
Deeply concerned by the rising incidents of this scheme, the Kogi State Police Command has issued a stern advisory urging all construction sector operators, building material dealers, and private developers to maintain heightened vigilance and resist being pressured into rushed financial commitments.
The police command strongly recommended that industry stakeholders conduct rigorous physical verifications of construction sites and project ownership rather than trusting photos or videos shared over social media. Authorities further cautioned against making fund transfers to third-party accounts, advising buyers to thoroughly trace the origin of building supplies and report suspicious calls, bank details, or transactions directly to security agencies for immediate investigation.
