The Rivers State Police Command announced on Tuesday morning the arrest of one Blessing Daberechi Oleru, a 35-year-old female, residing on Ompadec Road, Igwuruta Town, Port Harcourt.
The suspect has been accused of involvement in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) debit card swapping. A victim, who pleaded anonymity, reported the incident on 26 November 2024 at the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station after the suspect swapped his ATM card at a bank at the Garrison axis in Port Harcourt.
According to the report, the victim attempted to withdraw cash from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), but the machine malfunctioned. Oleru, who was standing nearby pretending to carry out a transaction, offered assistance but instead swapped the victim’s debit card.
The victim left the ATM without realising what had happened but soon began receiving debit alerts totalling five hundred and twenty-three thousand, six hundred naira (₦523,600.00).
According to the spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, “Following a coordinated intelligence operation, police operatives arrested Oleru on 5 February 2025.
During interrogation, she confessed to the crime, and a Moniepoint POS machine was recovered from her possession.” She added that the investigation was ongoing, with efforts to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
“This arrest demonstrates the Rivers State Police Command’s commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting citizens’ interests at all times,” she added.
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