World Cup: Activities Of Syndicates Leave Some Nigerians Stranded In Russia

FRANCIS ACHI/Moscow

It was a sad tale of pain, anguish and total despair for some Nigerians after they were swindled of their hard earned money saved over time to enjoy the World Cup by some Russian internet syndicates.

PM EXPRESS can report that so many Nigerian football fans fell into the trap of hotel accommodation internet syndicates that advertised cheap hotel/hostel accommodation for travelling football fans coming to Russia for the FIFA World Cup.

PM EXPRESS in Moscow scooped that the Nigerian victims booked  for their accommodation online. They were lured into this due to the fact that the bookings did not insist on online payment, but just for them to book and all was well. However, some Nigerians still went ahead and made payment online to secure their accommodation.

Unfortunately, they were left stranded after they arrived at the airport. The online hotel /hostel accommodation booking or reservation looks very attractive with their low prices, but these prices target victims who are complete strangers to the activities of syndicates in Russia.

Some Nigerians who got their accommodation as booked online thought they were lucky not to fell to the trap of the syndicates, unknown to them that  they were in for a different ugly experience in Russia.  Most of the hostels accommodation are situated at densely populated area and some flash points zones in Moscow where adequate security of valuables are not guaranteed. This made them to fall victims to some criminal elements who also disguised as guests in the hostels.

The cheap prices of these syndicates are as low as $10 and $15 per bed space, not necessarily a room, but a dormitory that  can accommodate four to six strange bed fellows, where the gullible will always fall victims.

Most of the crimes are committed by immigrants from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and others.