The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested 37 suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation carried out in Awka, Anambra State.
The all-male suspects were apprehended by operatives of the EFCC’s Enugu Zonal Directorate at Commissioners’ Quarters, Dr. J. O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka.
The operation followed “credible intelligence” linking the individuals to fraudulent internet activities, according to a statement from Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC.
“Items recovered during the operation include six exotic cars, laptops, and mobile phones,” Oyewale says, adding that the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
EFCC: Internet fraud, persistent issue in Nigeria’s digital economy
“Items recovered during the operation include six exotic cars, laptops, and mobile phones,” Oyewale says, adding that the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The arrests are part of the EFCC’s ongoing crackdown on cybercrime, a persistent issue in Nigeria’s digital economy. In recent years, the Commission has intensified efforts to address internet fraud, often referred to as “yahoo-yahoo,” which has drawn scrutiny both domestically and internationally.
The EFCC has previously carried out similar operations across the country, targeting suspected fraudsters who exploit digital platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The agency says it has also focused on raising public awareness about the dangers and consequences of cybercrime, which affects Nigeria’s global reputation and investor confidence.
Further details on the suspects and their alleged activities are expected to emerge as investigations progress, according to the anti-graft agency.
The latest arrests comes after the force arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in what the EFCC called a “yahoo academy” in Benin City, Edo State. On Thursday, January 16, 2025, operatives from the Benin Zonal Directorate apprehended the suspects at a cybercrime training centre, following what the agency describes as “credible intelligence” that the location was being used to teach internet-related fraud techniques. During the operation, items such as six exotic cars, laptops, and mobile phones were recovered. The suspects are also expected to be charged once investigations are completed.
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