The police in Delta State have arrested a Point of Sale (POS) operator for facilitating ransom payments of N4 million linked to a kidnapper......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
The suspect, who was paraded by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, received N4,000,000 on behalf of the kidnappers.
During her interrogation, she told police investigators that the kidnapper who provided her account details, where the money was transferred, had been her customer, and she was unaware that he was involved in kidnapping.
Confirming the arrest in a terse message to our correspondent yesterday, the police image maker, SP Bright Edafe, warned POS operators to be mindful of the risks associated with processing large transactions that could be linked to criminal activities, particularly kidnappings.
He stressed that it is dangerous for POS operators to handle transactions exceeding N500,000.
He cautioned that POS operators could unknowingly become accomplices in ransom collection, jeopardizing both their business and personal freedom.
“My message to POS operators is clear: any transaction above ₦500,000 can get you into serious trouble. Don’t be a tool for kidnappers to collect ransom, as such transactions must be traced back to you,” SP Edafe said.
He cited the recent case in which the arrested operator facilitated the transfer of N4 million to kidnappers, earning just N40,000 as her commission.
“She received N4,000,000 from kidnappers, and her profit was just N40,000.
“Can you imagine? Be wise. You may argue that you are just doing business, but before your lawyer gets you out, you may spend some time cooling off in prison.”
He therefore urged POS operators to exercise caution and diligence when handling large sums, warning that failing to do so could lead to serious legal repercussions.