By Aaior K. Comfort
The Delta State Police Command has paraded 123 suspected internet fraudsters arrested at an estate on the Warri–Sapele road. The suspects, mostly young men aged 17 and above, were reportedly lured from various states, including Kaduna, Ibadan, and Akwa Ibom, under the guise of receiving training in forex trading and cryptocurrency.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, explained that the operators of the so-called “Hussle Kingdom” (HK) recruited agents to deceive the young men with false promises of wealth. Upon arrival, their phones were seized, and they were restricted in movement, forced to use laptops for fraudulent activities.
The victims were subjected to harsh conditions, including irregular feeding, physical abuse, and a lack of freedom. Edafe shared the story of one recruit from Kaduna, who managed to alert his mother, leading to a military-led rescue. Other victims, including an Alfa intending to study in Egypt, were also trapped in the HK scheme.
SP Edafe urged parents to closely monitor their children, particularly when they display sudden wealth, to prevent them from falling into similar schemes.
One of the suspects, Gideon, aged 17, revealed the harsh conditions they endured, saying, “We came here to hustle, internet floating. We eat twice daily. We work from 9pm to 5am. They seize our phones and allow us to call only on Sundays.”
The police emphasized the need for families to stay vigilant and ask questions about unusual behavior or unexplained wealth from their children.