Two suspects running fake Instagram modelling agencies where they pose as models recruiting agents, luring young models to hotels and bars and dispossessing them of money and personal belonging, have been arrested by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad.
The suspects, Stanley Odachi, 27 and Chuks Oragwu, 31 were arrested on Wednesday while they were luring another victim to a hotel in Igando, Alimosho, Lagos.
As at the time of their arrest on Wednesday, about 5 girls had registered their complaints that the suspects absconded with their mobile phones and money under the pretext of registering them for modelling jobs.
About 4 other young models refused to press charges. Two other victims stated that they were having an examination in school and couldn’t make a formal complaint.
All the victims stated that they encountered the suspects on Instagram through the advertisements on their handles requesting young models to enlist with their agency for a modelling contract.
The victims added that they were subsequently asked to report at hotels, where they were made to surrender their mobile phones, which the suspects escaped with.
A victim, an undergraduate of a prominent private university based in Ibadan, said apart from her iPhone, the two suspects, who acted as manager and personal assistant collected N50,000 from her when she visited them at their hotel in Igando, Lagos.
Confirming the allegations levelled against them, Stanley Odachi, the leader of the gang, stated that he opened an Instagram account “bold and beautiful” sometime in 2018 to attract young models.
When the account was blocked, he teamed up with Oragwu to open another Instagram handle, “benitamodellers.” They sell the phones to one Emeka Mmegwa, who resell them to people at the Alaba International Market.