A visually impaired widow in Anambra State was the victim of a heartless theft over the weekend when a yet-to-be-identified woman stole her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and drained her account of over ₦2 million within minutes. The incident occurred at an ATM point in Nnewi, located in the Nnewi North Local Government Area.
A Crime of Deception
The theft came to light on Tuesday when the widow, confused and distraught, approached her bank to report multiple debit alerts she had received. According to the bank’s investigation, CCTV footage revealed how the suspect, pretending to assist the visually impaired woman, swapped her ATM card for a fake one and swiftly withdrew all the funds from her account.
The 42-second surveillance footage, which has since gone viral on social media, captured the suspect—a woman dressed in a red top and black trousers—exploiting the widow’s condition. She pretended to help the victim operate the ATM, but instead swapped her functional card with an expired one. Unaware of the switch, the widow discovered the theft only after receiving debit alerts on her phone.
Victim’s Account of the Incident
Speaking at the bank on Thursday, the 58-year-old widow recounted her harrowing experience.
“I went to the ATM to withdraw some cash but couldn’t operate the machine properly because of my visual impairment,” she said. “A woman nearby offered to assist me. She took my card, got my PIN, and swapped it with an expired one. Within minutes, I started receiving debit alerts on my phone. Over ₦2 million was gone just like that.”
She added that the loss was devastating, especially given her financial struggles as a widow.
Bank Officials Warn Against ATM Fraud
A bank official, who chose to remain anonymous, confirmed the incident and emphasized the importance of vigilance at ATM points, especially for vulnerable individuals.
“The CCTV footage clearly shows the suspect swapping the victim’s card and proceeding to another ATM to withdraw the money. This act is beyond wicked,” the official stated.
He urged customers to avoid sharing their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) with strangers, no matter the circumstance.
“If you encounter difficulties using an ATM, seek assistance only from authorized bank personnel. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of such caution,” the official added.
Police Investigation Underway
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident and assured the public that an investigation had been launched to apprehend the suspect. The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, has directed the deployment of all intelligence-gathering tools to track down the suspect.
SP Ikenga said, “The Command is aware of the trending video showing a lady at an ATM in Nnewi swapping the card of a visually impaired woman and withdrawing ₦2 million. The CP has directed investigators to gather all necessary information and has appealed to residents to provide any leads that could aid in identifying the suspect.”
Community Involvement Encouraged
The police also called on residents of Nnewi and neighboring areas to assist in tracking down the suspect, who is believed to live locally.
“We urge the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals matching the description of the suspect. Community involvement is vital in addressing such crimes and ensuring justice,” Ikenga added.
A Broader Appeal for Awareness
The tragic incident has sparked discussions about the need for increased public awareness and support for vulnerable individuals, particularly those with disabilities, when accessing financial services. Banks are being urged to improve accessibility and security measures at ATMs to prevent similar crimes.
As investigations continue, the Anambra State Police Command has vowed to bring the suspect to justice and emphasized that crimes targeting vulnerable individuals will not go unpunished.
