…Vow No Hiding Place for Internet Fraudsters
The Nigeria Police Force has secured the conviction of fifty-nine (59) foreign nationals involved in an international cybercrime syndicate uncovered in Abuja, as part of its intensified crackdown on internet-related offences across the country.
This was contained in a statement on Thursday signed by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, who confirmed that the latest conviction brings the total number of convicted suspects to eighty-five (85) following a series of arrests made in November 2024.
The statement reads partly:
“On Saturday, 3rd November 2024, acting on credible and actionable intelligence, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre carried out a well-coordinated cyber-operation on a building located in Jahi, Abuja. The operation, which formed part of a broader national cybercrime crackdown, led to the arrest of one hundred and thirty (130) suspects, comprising one hundred and thirteen (113) foreign nationals of Chinese and Malaysian origin and seventeen (17) Nigerians.”
“These individuals were implicated in various cyber offences, including large-scale internet fraud, sophisticated hacking operations, and other cyber criminal activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s national cybersecurity.”
“Following meticulous investigations and the presentation of robust digital forensic evidence in court, twenty-one (21) of the accused persons were earlier convicted and sentenced on 1st August 2025, while an additional five (5) were convicted in September 2025.”
“With the most recent conviction of fifty-nine (59) others, the total number of convicted suspects now stands at eighty-five (85), as prosecution of the remaining suspects continues.”
According to the statement, the operation marked another milestone in the Police Force’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on transnational cybercrime networks operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders. It also revealed that all convicted suspects were found guilty of offences relating to cyber fraud, identity theft, and unauthorised access to computer systems, following the presentation of comprehensive digital evidence in court.
The Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Force to sustaining its war against cybercriminals and digital fraudsters. He stressed that the convictions should serve as a stern warning to both local and international syndicates exploiting Nigeria’s cyberspace for criminal gains.
According to him, the success of the prosecution “sends a strong and clear message to both local and international cybercriminal networks that Nigeria will not serve as a safe haven for cybercriminal enterprises.”
Egbetokun further assured that the Force would continue to leverage cutting-edge technology, strengthen international partnerships, and maintain robust investigative and prosecutorial strategies aimed at dismantling organised cybercrime rings across the country.
He noted that the Police Cybercrime Centre had continued to work closely with global security agencies and cyber experts to trace, identify, and disrupt complex digital fraud operations.