Two Suspected ATM Card Swappers Arrested After Mob Attack

Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested two suspected ATM debit card swappers and fraudsters after rescuing them from an angry mob in Enugu.

The suspects, identified as 34-year-old Onyeka Timothy and 32-year-old Philip Chima Nwankwo, were apprehended on May 11, 2026, at about 10:50 a.m. by officers attached to the Central Police Station (CPS).

According to the statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the suspects allegedly targeted a female customer at a commercial bank along Okpara Avenue, Enugu, where they pretended to assist her with an ATM transaction before allegedly swapping her debit card.

The victim was said to have quickly discovered the alleged fraud and raised an alarm, prompting passersby and other bank customers to descend on the suspects. Police operatives, however, intervened swiftly, rescued the suspects from being lynched, and rearrested them.

During the operation, officers recovered the victim’s swapped ATM debit card and a TVS tricycle allegedly used by the suspects in carrying out the criminal activity.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had confessed to the crime and would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa reiterated the Command’s determination to combat financial and cyber-related crimes across the state.

He also warned residents against taking the law into their own hands by assaulting suspects, urging citizens instead to hand suspects over to law enforcement agencies for proper investigation and prosecution.