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2023: Beware Of Fraudulent Text Messages In ‘Support Of Presidential Candidates’, Police Warn
The Yobe State PoliceCommand Wednesday cautioned residents of the state to be wary of fraudulent text messages asking them to register their support for a presidential candidate for financial reward.
The Command’s Spokesman, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, gave the warning when he spoke with newsmen in Damaturu.
He said criminals were using the Short Message Service (SMS) to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The SMS reads: “Presidential Candidate Support: Beloved, vote Atiku Abubakar as your choice for change and N69,220 will be offered to you as a serious member. Call management on 07062506048.”
According to the police spokesman, investigation revealed that the text message in question is fake, hence emanated from fraudsters.
He warned that anyone that responds to it will be required to provide security details of their bank accounts to the fraudster who will break into the account and steal money in it.
“Police are investigating a recent case in which a woman was defrauded of N1.7 million in similar circumstances after the fraudster(s) offered to auction some relief materials to her,” Abdulkarim said.
READ ALSO: 2023: Be on alert, Buhari planning to impose president on us – Dino Melaye to Nigerians
He stressed that under no circumstance should ATM pins, BVN and other bank security codes be provided to dubious persons during business transactions, while also calling on Point of Sale (POS) operators to be cautious of fake transaction text messages.
ASP Abdulkarim also noted that there are reports of people going to POS operators to request for cash and the latter would receive credit alerts through his or her bank account.
“Many POS operators were defrauded through this means, even as the usual transaction messages were sent to them.
“What needs to be understood is that bank transaction messages must come in the corporate name of the bank, and do not receive responses or replies.
“When someone says he pays money into your account and the text message comes in an anonymous or individual’s name, it is simply a fake,” he said.
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JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.
READ ALSO:Ladoja Coronation Date As 44th Olubadan Revealed
The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.
Details later…
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JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.
These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.
The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.
The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.
The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.
READ ALSO:FG Introduces Chinese Language Into School Curriculum
By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.
The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.
“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”
Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.
“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.
READ ALSO:FG Gives Mining Firms Deadline For Community Agreements
“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.
He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.
“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”
In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.
He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.
READ ALSO:FG Gazettes New Tax Reform Laws
He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.
Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.
According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.
This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.
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