Vigilant residents of Makurdi, Benue State, have foiled the plans of two suspected POS fraudsters in separate incidents. On Monday, September 29, 2025, a suspect was caught at Gyado Villa, opposite Peniel College, for allegedly attempting to defraud a POS operator with fake alerts. The suspect was handed over to the police for further investigation.

In a similar incident, another suspected POS fraudster was nabbed over the weekend in Makurdi. According to social media personality Zege Okwande, the suspect had been defrauding POS operators with fake transactions.

Recent Crackdown on Cybercrime in Benue State

The apprehension of these suspects follows recent efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime in Benue State. In April 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in Makurdi, with items recovered including three cars, five laptops, and 22 phones. Similarly, the Benue State Police Command has been working to dismantle networks of fraudsters, with the Commissioner of Police, Hassan Steve Yabanet, warning landlords and hoteliers to be mindful of the individuals they accommodate.¹ ²

Efforts to Combat Cybercrime

The police and EFCC continue to work together to combat cybercrime in Benue State. In August 2024, the EFCC arrested 14 suspected internet fraudsters in Makurdi, while the police have also apprehended several suspects in connection with cybercrime-related offenses.