The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected cyber fraudster, Matthias Aya, in connection with a sophisticated SIM registration scam that exploited unsuspecting individuals seeking to purchase new SIM cards.
The arrest was confirmed by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, in a statement issued on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
According to the statement, Aya was apprehended on July 23 at about 3 p.m. in Nung Udoe, Ibesikpo Local Government Area, following a discreet investigation into a rising pattern of identity theft linked to SIM registration.
DSP John explained that Aya had been impersonating a legitimate mobile network SIM registration agent, deceiving members of the public by capturing their personal information under the guise of assisting them with new SIM purchases.
“He posed as a SIM card registration agent, collecting sensitive information including facial images and National Identification Numbers from unsuspecting individuals,” the statement read.
“After obtaining their details, he would claim that there were network issues and ask the victims to return the next day—only to relocate before they could find him again.”
Suspicion grew when a victim from Nung Udoe identified Aya as the man who had collected her personal data under false pretenses. This led to his arrest and the eventual unmasking of his illicit operations.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to registering multiple SIM cards using the identities of innocent citizens and selling them to criminal elements. “He admitted to using the NINs to activate new SIM cards which he sold for large sums to individuals involved in fraudulent activities,” John said.
Items recovered from Aya include a SIM registration device, three mobile phones, twenty already-used SIM cards, numerous completed registration forms, a small bag, and N10,000 in cash.
DSP John warned that the incident exposes a growing trend in digital fraud and urged members of the public to be more cautious with their personal data. “We are urging everyone to verify their NIN-linked phone numbers to ensure there are no unknown or unauthorized numbers tied to their identity,” she advised.
She also appealed for increased vigilance and encouraged the public to report any suspicious SIM registration activity to the nearest police station.
“As part of our ongoing investigation, efforts are underway to trace and arrest individuals who may have purchased the fraudulently registered SIM cards,” she added.
The police commended community members for their cooperation and urged continuous awareness to outsmart emerging criminal tactics.
