By Prince Wiro
The Rivers State Police Command says the Command has arrested one Blessing Daberechi Oleru, female, 35 years old, of OMPADEC Road, Igwuruta Town, Port Harcourt involved in ATM debit card swapping.
Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command,Grace Iringe Koko who is also a Superintendent of Police in a statement on Tuesday,25th,2025 stated that the victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported the incident on November 26, 2024, at the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station after the suspect swapped his ATM card at a Bank 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 Rivers Police Image Maker stated that the victim left the ATM without realizing what had happened but soon began receiving debit alerts totaling five hundred and twenty-three thousand, six hundred naira (₦523,600.00).
“Following a coordinated intelligence operation, police operatives arrested Oleru on February 5, 2025. “During interrogation, she confessed to the crime, and a Moniepoint POS machine was recovered from her possession” SP Koko said
SP Koko further disclosed that investigation is ongoing, with efforts to apprehend other members of the syndicate while adding that the arrest demonstrates the Rivers State Police Command’s commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting citizens’ interests at all times.