19-Year-Old Computer Science Student, Seven  Others Arrested For Digital Banking Fraud, Armed Robbery

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The Police in Gombe have succeeded in arresting an eight-man gang that specialises in internet fraud and armed robbery.

Luck ran out for the syndicate after a discreet investigation by the Police, which led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Mustapha Kabiru, alias ‘Musty Bobo,’ a 19-year-old ND II student of Computer Science, the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo, on 29th June, 2026, at about 1730 hours.

DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the Gombe Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in a Press Release to newsmen Sunday evening (05/07/2026), explained that “on 7th June, 2026, at about 0830 hours, a complaint was lodged at Operation Hattara by Hassan Muhammad and Jibril Hassan, both of Wuro Birji Quarters, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

“They alleged that unknown persons armed with cutlasses broke into their residences and dispossessed them of their mobile phones”, he stated.

Buhari explained further that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects subsequently used information obtained from the stolen phones to gain unauthorised access to the victims’ bank accounts.

He said, “The suspects fraudulently withdrew the sum of Two Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Naira (₦296,790.00) from the GTBank account of one of the victims and further obtained and withdrew a Quick Loan amounting to the sum of Two Hundred and Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Five Naira (₦205,205.00).

But acting on credible intelligence and following painstaking technical analysis of the fraudulent transactions, operatives successfully traced one transaction to a Moniepoint account, which led to the arrest of Mustapha Kabiru, aka ‘Musty Bobo’, according to the PPRO.

While interviewing the suspect, the PPRO said, “Kabiru confessed to having used information obtained from stolen mobile phones to access victims’ bank accounts and perpetrate fraudulent transactions. His confession subsequently led to the arrest of seven (7) additional suspects”.

The Police statement added that further investigation revealed that the syndicate had participated in more than thirteen (13) similar incidents across Wuro Birji, Riyal, Bomala, and Jauro Jatau communities within the State.

“Investigation is still ongoing, while concerted efforts are being intensified to apprehend other syndicate members who are currently at large”, Buhari Abdullahi assured.

He then expressed the commendation of the Commissioner of Police, Umar Ahmed Chuso, to the operatives involved in the investigation and reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to tackling all forms of criminality, including cybercrime and violent offences.

“The CP further urged members of the public to remain vigilant, adequately secure their personal information and digital devices, and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station”, the PPRO emphasised.