Nigeria Police Arraign 113 Foreign Nationals for Cybercrime and Fraud

 

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has brought 113 foreign nationals before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges linked to cybercrime, including computer fraud, marketing scams, money laundering, and unauthorized access to data.

Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi announced in a statement on December 2, 2024, that the suspects were apprehended during an operation on November 3 in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The operation was carried out by the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in collaboration with Zone 7 Command.

A comprehensive investigation followed the arrests, leading to the recovery of a wide range of digital and physical assets allegedly used to facilitate cybercrime.

Police seized various high-tech equipment and personal items during the operation, including:

• Electronics: Laptops, smartphones, tablets, desktops, gaming devices, and routers from multiple brands, including Starlink, Huawei, and MTN.
• Servers and Drones: High-capacity servers, drones, and other specialized equipment suspected to be integral to cybercrime operations.
• Personal Documents: International passports, identity cards, and other travel documents.
• Vehicles and Accessories: A Black Toyota Tundra vehicle and a Harman/Kardon sound system.

Adejobi emphasized that these tools were likely instrumental in the syndicate’s sophisticated cyber activities, ranging from data breaches to financial scams.

The suspects face multiple charges, including:

• Computer-related fraud.
• Unauthorized data access.
• Marketing scams.
• Money laundering.
• Conspiracy.
• Illegal immigration.

The charges also encompass alleged involvement in human trafficking networks, signaling the broad scope of the crimes under investigation.

Adejobi described the scale and complexity of the operation as reflective of the growing global threat posed by cybercriminal networks that operate across borders.

The NPF reaffirmed its commitment to tackling cybercrime and related offenses, highlighting the collaboration between domestic and international agencies to combat these challenges.

The case is expected to set a precedent for addressing transnational cybercrime in Nigeria, as the authorities continue to strengthen their approach to digital security and law enforcement.