Here is a story of how a young man who works in Port
Harcourt was killed and his decomposing body later found by police who went in
search of another victim who was unfortunately killed too.
Harcourt was killed and his decomposing body later found by police who went in
search of another victim who was unfortunately killed too.
On the night of Friday, the 7th of March 2014, our friend
and colleague disappeared.
and colleague disappeared.
He was with a friend in his rented apartment in Port
Harcourt on that night when he received a call. After answering the call at
about 8pm, he told his guest he had to dash out to meet some colleague and that
he would be back shortly. That was the last time anyone saw him alive, he met
with the persons but never returned.
Harcourt on that night when he received a call. After answering the call at
about 8pm, he told his guest he had to dash out to meet some colleague and that
he would be back shortly. That was the last time anyone saw him alive, he met
with the persons but never returned.
He had planned to travel to home to his family in Warri on
Saturday but sadly, their expectation to see him alive and well was cut short.
He never came home. By Monday his family was fully panicked. They checked and
confirmed that there were no accidents on the PHC-WAR road and that his name
was not on any manifest of the more popular transport companies.
Saturday but sadly, their expectation to see him alive and well was cut short.
He never came home. By Monday his family was fully panicked. They checked and
confirmed that there were no accidents on the PHC-WAR road and that his name
was not on any manifest of the more popular transport companies.
Further enquiries revealed that there had been several
withdrawals from his account via his ATM card along the Eleme/Onne axis of Port
Harcourt. It was then assumed that he had been kidnapped, though there was
never any call or demand for ransom.
withdrawals from his account via his ATM card along the Eleme/Onne axis of Port
Harcourt. It was then assumed that he had been kidnapped, though there was
never any call or demand for ransom.
THIRD PARTY INFORMATION
Fast forward three weeks to Friday 28th of March, when a guy
flew in to Port Harcourt from Lagos. Apparently, he came to close a business
deal.
flew in to Port Harcourt from Lagos. Apparently, he came to close a business
deal.
On arrival, he checked into a hotel and got in contact with
a driver/mechanic whom he was familiar with and arranged for the guy to take
him somewhere for a business meeting with some persons. Upon arriving at the
location, they were attacked, but luckily the mechanic/driver escaped. He
returned to the location a while later with police men and met the corpse of
his client (the man from Lagos). Per protocol, the police searched the area and
discovered the now de-composing corpse of our colleague.
a driver/mechanic whom he was familiar with and arranged for the guy to take
him somewhere for a business meeting with some persons. Upon arriving at the
location, they were attacked, but luckily the mechanic/driver escaped. He
returned to the location a while later with police men and met the corpse of
his client (the man from Lagos). Per protocol, the police searched the area and
discovered the now de-composing corpse of our colleague.
OUR THOUGHTS
It appears there is a syndicate or gang of criminals who are
using a ‘honey trap’ to lure unsuspecting people to an untimely and gruesome
death. We believe based on the little facts we have that they are parading an
item for sale for an unbelievable bargain price. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS OR
HOW THE INITIAL CONTACT IS MADE (MOST LIKELY ONLINE), it could be anything from
a high end vehicle or heavy duty equipment to real estate property, though it’s
more likely to be a car/vehicle because it is unlikely our colleague would go
out at night to inspect a piece of land and the fact that their last victim
contacted a mechanic/driver indicates that he was likely looking for his
input/opinion on the state of item he wanted to buy. AGAIN, WE DON’T KNOW THE
DETAILS OF THE ‘DEAL’ BECAUSE NONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THE DEAL SURVIVED
TO TELL THE TALE.
using a ‘honey trap’ to lure unsuspecting people to an untimely and gruesome
death. We believe based on the little facts we have that they are parading an
item for sale for an unbelievable bargain price. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS OR
HOW THE INITIAL CONTACT IS MADE (MOST LIKELY ONLINE), it could be anything from
a high end vehicle or heavy duty equipment to real estate property, though it’s
more likely to be a car/vehicle because it is unlikely our colleague would go
out at night to inspect a piece of land and the fact that their last victim
contacted a mechanic/driver indicates that he was likely looking for his
input/opinion on the state of item he wanted to buy. AGAIN, WE DON’T KNOW THE
DETAILS OF THE ‘DEAL’ BECAUSE NONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THE DEAL SURVIVED
TO TELL THE TALE.
Whatever it is, we believe that they are offering it at a
substantial below market price, hence the interest from would be victims.
substantial below market price, hence the interest from would be victims.
After price negotiations (presumably on phone), they would
arrange to meet up with their customer for inspection only to accost the
person, beat and torture him/her until the person divulges the pin code to
his/her ATM card(s) which they would have already taken. They proceed to
confirm the code they have forced the victim to divulge is correct by using it
in any nearby ATM machine (also definitely check the balance), after which they
kill the person and set-up another deal for the next weekend while they
continue withdrawing from their victims account(s).
arrange to meet up with their customer for inspection only to accost the
person, beat and torture him/her until the person divulges the pin code to
his/her ATM card(s) which they would have already taken. They proceed to
confirm the code they have forced the victim to divulge is correct by using it
in any nearby ATM machine (also definitely check the balance), after which they
kill the person and set-up another deal for the next weekend while they
continue withdrawing from their victims account(s).
It seems logical because in the build up to the deal, it’s
logical that the person would have started accumulating money in his/her
account towards the purchase. This scenario fits our colleague’s case. They
called him on Friday night of 7th March, 2014 to meet-up with them, he went,
they beat him and tortured him till he gave them his pin, they confirmed it and
killed him. The same scenario played out again three weeks later only this
time, one of the two people escaped to raise an alarm.
logical that the person would have started accumulating money in his/her
account towards the purchase. This scenario fits our colleague’s case. They
called him on Friday night of 7th March, 2014 to meet-up with them, he went,
they beat him and tortured him till he gave them his pin, they confirmed it and
killed him. The same scenario played out again three weeks later only this
time, one of the two people escaped to raise an alarm.
Please we all need to be careful not to fall for this or any
other ‘honey trap’ be it via online or any other media.
other ‘honey trap’ be it via online or any other media.
Some of the learning(s) from this incident.
1. Stop
receiving bank alerts on your phone (Kidnappers check phones for account
balances and make withdrawals from accounts after obtaining the PIN from the
kidnapped individual)
receiving bank alerts on your phone (Kidnappers check phones for account
balances and make withdrawals from accounts after obtaining the PIN from the
kidnapped individual)
2. If possible,
maintain a separate account for ATM use (separate your salary or main account
from the account that has an ATM card. Someone says she has an account she
transfers funds too for weekend use. Never a lot of money in that account so
the loss of the card / account would not be an issue)
maintain a separate account for ATM use (separate your salary or main account
from the account that has an ATM card. Someone says she has an account she
transfers funds too for weekend use. Never a lot of money in that account so
the loss of the card / account would not be an issue)
3. Have only one ATM card on you at any point in
time (especially for ladies, do not put all your “cards” in one “bag”
time (especially for ladies, do not put all your “cards” in one “bag”
4. ALWAYS let
people know what you are up to (or where you are going to)
people know what you are up to (or where you are going to)
5. Be very wary
of “deals” that seem too good to be true
of “deals” that seem too good to be true
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