Manchester violent robbers lured victims on Facebook Marketplace

Two 18-year-olds set up fake profiles on Facebook Marketplace and then violently robbed their victims who came to buy non-existent bikes from them, a court has heard.

Michael Ogbeide-John and Bilal Jama, respectively from the Longsight and Levenshulme areas of Manchester, “lured the victims – knowing they had money on them – and then violently robbed them of their cash”, said Det Insp Natalie McDonald of Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

One victim suffered seven jaw fractures, Manchester Crown Court was told.

Ogbeide-John was detained at a young offenders’ institution for four years while Jama received a three-and-a-half year sentence for the attacks between December 2024 and January 2025.

The first victim told police he messaged “Angela Davies” on Facebook on 20 December 2024 about a mountain bike that had been advertised for sale for £140.

He said he went to meet the seller to buy the bike the following day on Naburn Street in Manchester.

Jama, of Kingsmere Avenue, and Ogbeide-John, of Meldon Road, were both captured on CCTV with their faces covered arriving on Naburn Street and interacting with their victim.

Police said the man, after feeling intimidated by the pair, started to run but was caught and attacked.

They pushed him to the ground and placed their arms around his neck before stealing £130.

A few days later, on 29 December 2024, another victim messaged “Billz Jay” as they wished to purchase a £450 mountain bike.

They arranged to meet the following day.

Jama told the victim to follow him to a garage at the back of the address, telling him the bike was there.

As Jama and the victim walked down an alleyway, CCTV footage showed Ogbeide-John getting off a bike, running up behind their victim and assaulting him.

GMP said he placed his arms around the victim’s neck and pressed something sharp under his chin. The victim lost consciousness.

Police said CCTV footage showed the whole incident, including Ogbeide-John looking through a wallet for cash.

After a passer-by noticed the unconscious victim in the alleyway between Naburn Street and Daisybank Road, he was taken to hospital.

He suffered seven fractures to his jaw, resulting in him needing six metal plates and full reconstructive surgery to his face.

On 20 January 2025, a third victim listed an e-bike on Facebook Marketplace for £550 and noticed seller “Jacob Verona” selling a similar one.

The victim suggested swapping bikes, along with an additional payment of £80.

The victim’s father agreed to go with him the following day to Kingfisher Close.

As the victim was getting the bike out of the car, Jama and Ogbeide-John walked past him, before carrying on walking and waiting on the street corner.

Police said the defendants were seen talking before heading back towards the victim and his father.

One of the attackers said: “Why are you up here?”

Police said the victim was suspicious and lied, hoping he would not be asked about the e-bike.

Ogbeide-John then put his hands on the handlebars of the victim’s bike, saying: “Give me the bike… I’m taking the bike either nicely or nastily.”

When the victim’s father said the bike was his son’s property, police said Ogbeide-John replied: “Do you want me to stab you?”

The victim could see an outline of a shape resembling a knife and signalled to his father to let the bike go.

Ogbeide-John was arrested on suspicion of robbery on 24 January, with Jama being detained two days later.

Speaking after the pair were sentenced, Det Insp McDonald said the innocent victims had been subjected to “carefully planned attacks”.

She said: “They trusted in goodwill and the actions that greeted them were truly appalling.

“The crimes were carried out purely for greed, they lured the victims in.”