Police Arrests Man For Altering Stolen Phones’ IMEI Numbers

A man identified as Abdullahi Ali has been arrested by the police for allegedly altering the International Mobile Equipment Identity number, IMEI, of stolen mobile phones.

The 29-year-old suspect noted that he uses apps to alter the IMEI of phones, he further stated that he learnt the process from someone.

IMEI is a 15 digit number to identify GSM phones and also used to track stolen phones and to lock them out of the networks.

The force spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, paraded Ali and 107 suspected kidnappers, gunrunners, armed robbers, drug traffickers and bandits arrested by the Intelligence Response Team in Abuja on Wednesday.

The suspect who spoke in Hausa claimed that he used his laptop to alter the IMEI numbers of phones.

Ali said, “I was taught how to change phone IMEI numbers by some people and I also repair and sell phones and chargers.”

However, the police stopped the suspect from releasing further details as the case is still under investigation.

A suspected gunrunner, Adamu Numan, who was said to be selling firearms to criminal gangs, disclosed that he had supplied over seven AK-47 rifles to bandits.

Numan further revealed that he made a profit of about N150,000 on each rifle.

“I buy each AK-47 rifle for N450,000 and sell for between N650,000 and N700,000. I have sold over seven rifles and 200 pieces of ammunition to bandits. I buy them from Muhammadu Halilu in the Niger Republic; this is the second time I would be arrested.”

Mba said 30 firearms, including rifles and locally-made pistols; illicit drugs and 1,520 pieces of live ammunition were recovered from various gangs in the past few weeks.