The Rivers Police Command has dismantled a job racketeering syndicate accused of deceiving job seekers with fake employment opportunities. State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, announced the bust at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Disu reported that police operatives, responding to a distress call from concerned residents who suspected a hostage situation, successfully rescued 16 victims during a raid on the gang’s hideout.
The operation targeted a compound in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area, where Chukwudi Okoli was arrested for posing as an employee of Ojoseansel International Global Limited. Alongside Okoli, Amiye Joseph and 15 other victims—13 males and 2 females—were rescued and brought to the police station.
Initial investigations revealed that each victim had paid between N650,000 and N850,000 to the fraudulent company, which had falsely promised jobs in the oil and gas sector with salaries purportedly paid in US dollars.
The fraudsters operated by randomly contacting potential victims with fake job offers and inviting them to Port Harcourt for non-existent interviews. After extracting large sums of money, the victims were detained in a facility under close surveillance, according to Disu.