Six arrested for using sick people to beg for alms in Anambra state
The Anambra State Vigilante in joint operations with the police have arrested six people for allegedly using sick people to obtain money under false pretences, to beg for alms from the public in the state.
Penpushing reports that the Anambra State Police Command Public Relations Officer Tochukwu Ikenga, made this known in a statement on Friday adding that the suspects allegedly hired four sick people to beg for alms from the public.
The police spokesperson said police operatives from the Oba Divisional Police Office and vigilantes in the state, on April,17, 2025 raided an uncompleted building at Isu Village in Oba, Idemili-South Local Government Area, where the six suspects were arrested.
Penpushing further reports that Ikenga, a superintendent of police said identities of the suspects include Doris Basil, (28); Peter Ezedike,(38); Susan Monday, (27); Ogechi Okoro (27); Solomon Sunday (29) and Kenneth Achi (29).
The statement, said the operatives recovered six mobile phones and N82,400 in N50, N100 and N200 denominations, adding that the command has taken into custody the four sick people suspected to be suffering from brain tumours, breast cancer, and other terminal ailments.
Penpushing also reports that Ikenga stated that the police provided first aid and sought higher intervention for their treatment and safe return to their families, stressing that the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has declared that the offence contravened Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, which deals with obtaining property by false pretence.
The Commissioner emphasized that it is a felony that carries a potential penalty of three years’ imprisonment, and expressed concern over the level of moral decadence among some Nigerians, who take undue advantage of sick people to make quick money.
Penpushing reports that the police boss, however, directed that the relatives of the sick people be questioned to ascertain their culpability, adding that the suspects would be charged after the investigation.
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