The House of Representatives has called for the immediate closure of illegal loan platforms exploited by “one chance” operatives to extort money from unsuspecting victims.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance made by lawmaker Billy Osawaru during Wednesday’s plenary session.
The Heinous Activities of “One Chance” Operatives
Osawaru described the criminal activities of these operatives as “heinous,” stating that victims are often subjected to severe torture, their bank accounts emptied, and their identities misused for fraudulent loans.
“In many cases, the phone numbers and bank accounts of victims are used to borrow money from illegal and unauthorised loan apps, thereby incurring huge debts that the victims are forced to repay,” he lamented.
Call to Action
To address this growing menace, the House of Representatives urged:
- The closure of illegal loan platforms used to perpetuate these crimes.
- The Nigeria Police Force, banks, and FinTech operators like Opay and MoniePoint will prioritize reported cases of “one-chance” operations or kidnappings.
Osawaru also raised concerns about banks’ reluctance to assist victims until formal police reports are provided, further compounding the challenges faced by those affected.
Unanimous Support from Lawmakers
The motion was unanimously adopted without debate, signaling the lawmakers’ commitment to tackling the exploitation of vulnerable Nigerians by criminal networks.
