Yenagoa—The Bayelsa State Vigilante Services has seized two suspected swindlers who allegedly cheated unsuspecting pedestrians with card tricks around the Tombia roundabout market in the Yenagoa metropolis.
The two suspects who were arrested last week after a victim raised an alarm to their fraudulent activities were identified as John Eshua and John Ernest, respectively.
It was gathered that the suspected swindlers are also alleged to have some voodoo power which they use in hypnotizing their victims while posing as card illusionists.
The State Vigilante head, Hon. Doubiye Alagba, while speaking to newsmen explained that according to residents of the area, the suspects specialize in using card tricks to extort valuables from their victims.
He said “what they do is to trick you with whott cards using their accomplice who pretends not to know them and lure you into playing the card with them, immediately you fail, you lose your valuable.
“We have gotten serious complains about the activities of these set of fraudsters along this area and that has been part of the reasons why we have taken some drastic decision to beef up our security architecture in the Tombia Roundabout.”
Alagba disclosed that his men now man the roundabout and its environs sixteen hours a day (6am-10pm) as part of efforts to curtail all forms of criminal activities and insecurity in the area.
He further noted that trading along the road or walkway and wrong parking of vehicles by drivers will no longer be condoned, as defaulters will be arrested or vehicles impounded.
Meanwhile, the suspects have since been handed over to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Bayelsa State Command for further investigation.