Phone repairers under the auspices of Kwara State Association of Phone Technicians (KWAPTECH) and Association of Mobile Phones Technicians (AMOTECH) have cautioned their members to be wary of being used as accessory to crime through purchase and sales of stolen phones, laptops and other gadgets.
The state Presidents of both unions, Comrade Suleiman Abdulrahman and Adediji Yusuf respectively, stated this during a one- day seminar with the theme ‘Problems facing phone technicians as professionals,’ held at Railway Station Hall, Ilorin on Monday.
AbdulRahman said the essence of the programme was to keep members abreast of rules and regulations that guides the business.
“Many customers have negative perception about our operations because of their previous experience with some people with deviant attitude.
According to him, they have written to the Nigeria Police to form synergy in assisting them to eliminate activities of quackery and theft among operators.
Abdulrahman urged the technicians to as much as possible be trustworthy and make integrity their watch word in discharge of their duties.
Also speaking, Yusuf tasked the technicians to be wary of criminals who may decieve them into rendering certain services.
“Be mindful of customers who approach you to flash their phones by asking them for the receipt and other details before engaging in such transaction.
“Members of our association should help the police in reducing the crime rate in the state by not helping in facilitating the sales and repairs of mobile phones and laptops without a verifiable means of proof of ownership by the person bringing them,” he advised.
Also speaking at the event, the Officer- in- Charge of the X-Squad of the Kwara State Police command, SP Fabode Moses, noted that the only way to identify criminal elements within the association is to ensure all technicians are registered under the association.
He advised that photograph of the person bringing the phone or laptop should be taken with his/her consent, in order to serve as a form of defence whenever any problem arises.
