How SARS officers withdrew N20, 000 from my bank account – DELSU student

A final year student of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Johnson Oke, has given details of how officers of the Nigerian Police attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) allegedly withdrew N20, 000 from his account to secure his release.

Narrating his ordeal to DAILY POST in Abraka, the victim, a final year student of Geology department, said “I was on my way from Site Three of the university and was going home around Bembo Area, Abraka, when the officers, numbering three stopped me and requested for my identity card.

“I showed them my DELSU Identity Card and they identified themselves as well; one of them goes by the name Hassan but I can’t remember the other name.

“Afterwards, they requested for my mobile phone, which I gave to them. One of them started scrolling and saw a white lady in my phone before concluding that I am a “Yahoo Boy”.

“Before I could explain myself, he seized me by the trouser and dragged me into their red vehicle parked close by. They said that they were taking me to Asaba, that I should call my master, the person teaching me the Yahoo job but I told them that I am not a “Yahoo Boy.

“After I declined being an Internet Fraudster (Yahoo Boy), they said they were taking me to Abraka Police Division since I was proving stubborn and that after they are through with catching other “Yahoo Boys”, they would take us to station.

“While on motion, they sighted another person buying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at Fejikev Filling Station close to the police station and was operating his mobile phone, before diverting into the station. One of them went to quiz the person, while the other two started negotiating prize with me to secure my release.

“Initially, they requested for N100, 000 but I lamented that I don’t have such money and instantly, the one in possession of my phone searched further and found my United Bank for Africa (UBA) bank application and requested that I provide my secret pin to the application but I declined, telling them that I was innocent, but the other pointed a gun at my head with strict warning that if I failed to cooperate with them, they will kill me and say I was an armed robber; fear gripped me because this is the first time a gun would be pointed at me since I was born.

“I gave them my secret pin, they checked my account balance and withdrew N20, 000 out of N21, 000 in it. They actually transferred the money to another account. They were not satisfied yet; so, as I was about to leave as they have released me, they searched me further and saw a Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and requested I provide the password but I refused.”

In a swift reaction, the police spokesman in the state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka said: “the reports we have is that the student is involved in Yahoo business, we are investigating the matter”.

(Daily Post Nigeria)