An Anambra State-born businessman, in
South Africa, has lamented the operation of
a syndicate that allegedly used dubious
means and threats to extort big sums of
money from some Nigerians, especially
those of Igbo extraction, in that country.
The businessman who did not want his
name in prints, for security reasons,
described the syndicate as ‘powerful and
dangerous’. He explained that the extortionist gang were working in tandem
with some Nigerian prisoners in South
Africa.
He revealed that their modus operandi was
to make anonymous calls to some businessmen who were doing well in that
country, demanding specific amounts of
money in hard currencies from their
targeted victims, who were expected to pay
the money or risk losing their lives or lives of dear ones.
He said members of the alleged extortionists would even trace their victims
or members of their families to their home
towns in order to execute their mission in
case the money demanded was not paid.
The source said the crime had been thriving
for quite a long time and that most of the
victims had not been talking based on stern
warnings from the perpetrators that if they
dared give information to security agents
about their criminal activities, that death
would be the penalty.
He said what the perpetrators always
demanded were in thousands and millions
of dollars. According to him, the victims
dared not argue when the perpetrators made their demands having known the financial status of their victims. He explained that before members of the syndicate would strike, they must have studied their victim’s business operations and would be able to know their material worth, to be sure that the victim would be able to pay the amount demanded.
“I know security agents in Nigeria could
liaise with their South African counterparts
to unravel these criminal activities that have assumed a dangerous dimension since it involves loss of life. Obviously, the syndicate is powerful and can only be demystified by the government. Let this be investigated,” the source said.
South Africa, has lamented the operation of
a syndicate that allegedly used dubious
means and threats to extort big sums of
money from some Nigerians, especially
those of Igbo extraction, in that country.
The businessman who did not want his
name in prints, for security reasons,
described the syndicate as ‘powerful and
dangerous’. He explained that the extortionist gang were working in tandem
with some Nigerian prisoners in South
Africa.
He revealed that their modus operandi was
to make anonymous calls to some businessmen who were doing well in that
country, demanding specific amounts of
money in hard currencies from their
targeted victims, who were expected to pay
the money or risk losing their lives or lives of dear ones.
He said members of the alleged extortionists would even trace their victims
or members of their families to their home
towns in order to execute their mission in
case the money demanded was not paid.
The source said the crime had been thriving
for quite a long time and that most of the
victims had not been talking based on stern
warnings from the perpetrators that if they
dared give information to security agents
about their criminal activities, that death
would be the penalty.
He said what the perpetrators always
demanded were in thousands and millions
of dollars. According to him, the victims
dared not argue when the perpetrators made their demands having known the financial status of their victims. He explained that before members of the syndicate would strike, they must have studied their victim’s business operations and would be able to know their material worth, to be sure that the victim would be able to pay the amount demanded.
“I know security agents in Nigeria could
liaise with their South African counterparts
to unravel these criminal activities that have assumed a dangerous dimension since it involves loss of life. Obviously, the syndicate is powerful and can only be demystified by the government. Let this be investigated,” the source said.
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