The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 78 suspected internet fraudsters in a coordinated crackdown across Nasarawa, Abia, and Kano states.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement released on Friday in Abuja. According to him, the suspects were apprehended during sting operations based on credible intelligence linking them to cybercrime activities.
In Nasarawa State, 43 suspects were arrested in the Toto area on Friday. The EFCC said their arrests followed actionable intelligence about their alleged involvement in online scams.
“Items recovered from the suspects include five motorcycles, 64 mobile phones, four laptop computers, and an iPad,” Oyewale said.
Similarly, in Abia State, operatives of the EFCC arrested 30 suspected internet fraudsters during operations carried out on Thursday in Ariam and Ubakala communities. The agency recovered various items from the scene, including four cars, one iPad, three laptops, 42 mobile phones, one sound system, and an external hard drive.
In Kano, five suspects were picked up on Tuesday during a sting operation in the Farm Centre area. Oyewale said the arrests were made after intelligence reports linked them to cybercrime and related financial fraud. Several mobile phones were also seized from the suspects.
“All the suspects will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations,” the EFCC spokesperson added.
The EFCC has intensified its nationwide efforts to combat cybercrime, commonly known in Nigeria as “Yahoo Yahoo.” The agency has continued to track down individuals suspected of internet fraud, many of whom target foreign victims through fake online relationships, business scams, and identity theft.
These arrests come as part of a broader campaign to reduce the growing cases of cybercrime, especially among young Nigerians. The EFCC has repeatedly urged the public, especially youths, to avoid illegal means of making money and instead focus on genuine and legal opportunities.
The Commission also appealed to community leaders and members of the public to provide useful information that can help in identifying and apprehending fraudsters in their neighbourhoods.
EFCC has promised to keep up its operations until the country is free from the menace of internet fraud and related crimes.
