Police Arrest Suspects Behind Illegal NIN Collection in Anambra

Authorities have arrested several individuals in Anambra State in connection with the illegal collection of National Identity Numbers (NIN), according to a statement from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). The operation was carried out by operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) following reports that some residents were submitting their NINs to unauthorised individuals in exchange for money.

NIMC spokesperson Dr. Kayode Adegoke confirmed the arrests and warned Nigerians against sharing their NINs with anyone not officially authorised. He stated that the activities of the suspects violate the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, the Data Protection Act, and the Cyber Crime Act. The arrested individuals are currently being interrogated and will face legal consequences.

The Commission reiterated that at no point should individuals release their NINs for monetary gain, emphasising that the Federal Government and NIMC have not authorised any such transactions. It also reminded the public that NINs should only be used by their rightful holders to access verified government or private sector services. The NIMC has assured the public that it has implemented measures to curb the actions of fraudulent individuals exploiting the NIN system.