Police Arrest Fake Herbalists for Duping Women of N876,000 in Edo State

The Edo State Police Command apprehended two self-proclaimed herbalists, Lukman Ganiyu (28) and Ojo Oluwaseun (38), for allegedly defrauding two women of a total of N876,000. The arrests were made in Ugbiyokho, a suburb of Benin, the state capital.

The suspects were taken into custody by the vigilant surveillance team of the state police command on 2nd February. The arrests came in response to a report filed by the victims, Mrs. Joy Akhiobare and Mrs. Ijeoma Blessing Kalu, who accused the duo of exploiting them under the guise of providing spiritual assistance.

Command Spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, revealed that the victims sought the services of the herbalists to address issues plaguing their businesses. However, the suspects, operating under false pretenses, cunningly obtained N850,000 from Joy Akhiobare and N26,000 from Ijeoma Blessing Kalu.

Nwabuzor added that the police recovered the charm used by the suspects to deceive and intimidate the women, threatening them with dire consequences if they reported the fraudulent activities.

During an interview with journalists, Lukman Ganiyu, hailing from Ekiti State, admitted to duping the women but claimed a lower amount. “I duped the women of N236,000. I came to Benin on January 16, and I was arrested on February 2. One of the women approached me with marriage problems, seeking help as a native doctor,” Ganiyu confessed.

The arrest serves as a warning against fraudulent activities under the guise of spiritual assistance, providing a sense of relief to the victims and reinforcing the commitment of law enforcement in combating such criminal activities.