Fourteen people have been arrested in Nigeria following allegations of SIM card fraud. This comes after Nigeria’s communications regulator, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), cracked a whip on the vice.
The suspects, from the capital of Niger State Minna, Markudi, Benue, Wurukum, Modern Markets Lokoja and Kogi state capital, were caught with pre-registered SIM cards and are in police custody for further investigation.
According to NCC’s Salihu Abdu, Minna, topped in the list of those arrested with seven suspects.
The Head of NCC, Efosa Idehen, who was in charge of Markudi said that the NCC is in control to curb all people involved in sale or distribution of pre-registered SIM cards.
Given the high mobile phone penetration in Africa, the level of communication has increased enabling better communication services. Crime rate across Africa has also risen.
A number of African countries have experienced similar SIM card frauds with the latest being Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia.
“New cards are supposed to be dormant until registered and inserted into the phones, that’s when they can receive or make calls. In this case however, they were active indicating that pre-registration had occurred,” Abdu said.
He cautioned those earning a living through such means to stop.
The NCC ensures fair competition in the market exist.
In Kenya, under the Communication Commisssion of Kenya (CCK), efforts have been made to ensure all SIM card users register to ensure efficiency in monitoring communication.
The ICT sector is very fundamental for development in sectors of a country’s sectors including economy, education, health and security.
