People & Money

Criminals and Covid-19: Who is Busy?

The predicament bedeviling the world at the moment is the coronavirus, and this has claimed thousands of lives, with many victims still battling between life and death at different isolation centers. In order to curb the spread in Nigeria, three states of the federation: Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have been on lockdown for close to two weeks, following a directive from the President.

The lockdown came to some citizens as a shock, as those who could afford to stock their homes started panic buying, while others who live on daily bread tried to buy the little they could. On the other hand, the unemployed are left to their fate. Everyone is affected by the compulsory stay-at-home directive; the crime rate has dropped drastically in most parts of Lagos, following the lockdown.

Here’s a look at the state of criminal activities during the COVID-19 crisis in Nigeria:

Pickpockets have been rendered useless as people now remain indoors. Workers who would usually leave home before 5 am are also having relief from the dangerous attacks by robbers who operate on motorcycles.

In some parts of Igando and other suburbs, residents received letters, where a robbery gang informed them to be ready for their imminent visit. In fear, some of these residents have fled their homes while others are praying that the robbers’ convenient day should never come.

Traffic robbers and robbers who attack customers coming from banks also have their share of disappointments, following the lockdown in Lagos.  According to a report in Vanguard, it was gathered that the rate of shop burglary at the Idumota and Balogun markets have dropped, apparently due to the restriction of both human and vehicular movements. Cult clash has also been put on hold in this period. This is because everyone, except those on essential duty, has been compelled to stay at home, including criminals. The Report further revealed that in many of the densely populated suburbs of the city, petit thieves have resulted to stealing soup pots, food condiments, and other items at night as a result of hunger caused by the lockdown. Four thieves invaded some homes and ordered occupants to cook rice and stew for them, they held the occupants of the homes hostage until the food was ready and they ate and left after spending over four hours with their victims.

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the current COVID-19 situation to defraud, steal sensitive information, and gain unauthorized access to computers or mobile devices using various techniques.

In a report by The Nation, they are asking people to fill in some forms, to benefit from one of the government’s gestures or the other towards ameliorating the sufferings of Nigerians, while at home.

A state police command on patrol

Some of them get hold of accounts and telephone numbers of account holders, contact these unsuspecting bank customers, requesting for some information that would enable them to hack into their accounts. Usually, in this case, these fraudsters would pose as bank officials who intend to pay in money supposedly from the Federal Government. Already, there are online posts, where people are requested to provide information, to benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) loan scheme.

Intelligence obtained from the INTERPOL Headquarters also revealed that scammers have started to create and set up fraudulent websites, e-commerce platforms, fake social media accounts, and emails claiming to sell and deliver COVID-19 medical products. In some cases, they use the names of prominent companies involved in the production and distribution of these items. Victims are then asked to pay via bank transfer.

Car hijackers, serial motor vehicle theft are also on break. Before now, they usually have special keys they use perpetuating the crime.

Drug dealers are rampant in the society, even as States declared lockdown. They are still finding a way around movement, delivering Marijuana to their customers. Words on the streets say there has also been a hike in prices, as a package of ‘Loud’ (marijuana that is strong and also has a strong odor.that usually sells for N11, 000 now sells within the range of N15,000-N17,000.

Recently, an arrest was made by the operatives of the Inspector General of Police IGP Response Team, where they smashed a syndicate that specialises in trafficking hard drugs. They seized hard drugs worth about N500, 000. The suspects revealed that they supply up to 20-30 grams of cocaine weekly and transport the drugs from Lagos to Abuja in a concealed envelope and waybill it through commercial buses line, and when the package has been successfully delivered, they then sell it to the end-users in Abuja.

As COVID-19 spreads, there are insinuations that the crime rate will likely increase by the weeks if lockdown continues across the country.

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