3,000 lose N70, 000 each in alleged jobs’ scam – HOSTCOM reveals

Factional  National Chairman of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Chief Style Benjamin has dissociated his group from ongoing purported  fraudulent jobs and contract scams in Bayelsa State, saying at least 3,000 victims have lost N70,000 each to the alleged scam in the creeks.

Our Bayelsa State Correspondent reports that Chief Benjamin made the allegation in Yenagoa, adding that efforts are ongoing to stop the fraud.

According to the factional HOSTCOM National Chairman, three persons are already being prosecuted for allegedly obtaining money from Bayelsans under the guise of being HOSTCOM representatives in the state.

He said, “Mr. Ikiobofa Amasamana, Timila Arthure and Osain James, all males are currently standing trial at the Bayelsa State Magistrate Court for allegedly using the platform of HOSTCOM to obtain money from people. These set of persons, including Bishop Mike Emu (factional National Chairman) from Delta State have been collecting money and defrauding people in Bayelsa for nonexistent oil pipeline security surveillance contract jobs. Each Bayelsa victim caught in the web of fraud, say they paid between N68, 000 to N70,000 and they run into thousands of unsuspecting members of the public from oil communities.They were told that they will be given a pipeline surveillance security job that they will be paid N350, 000 monthly. During Police investigation, the impostors were asked to present original certificate of incorporation of the company and the certificate of incorporation of HOSTCOM, they couldn’t present them. They said they were collecting the money in anticipation”.

“In Bayelsa alone, about 3,000 persons have paid and they are going out sowing paramilitary uniforms for their victims and using same to lure more unsuspecting people in the rural areas,” Benjamin said.

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