The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arraigned 113 foreigners before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges related to cybercrime and immigration violations.
These charges include computer-related fraud, marketing scams, money laundering, unlawful data access and conspiracy.
According to a statement released on Monday by Force public relations officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrests were carried out on November 3, 2024, in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, during a coordinated operation led by the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and the Zone 7 Command.
The police recovered a variety of advanced digital equipment suspected to have been instrumental in the syndicate’s operations. Among the items seized were laptops, smartphones and tablets; multiple routers and high-capacity servers; drones and gaming devices; SIM cards, international passports, and other travel documents; and a Black Toyota Tundra vehicle and a Harman/Kardon sound system.
“These assets recovered are suspected to have been used in executing a range of cybercrime activities, including unauthorised data breaches, marketing scams and other cybercrime activities. The scale and sophistication of the operation underscore the increasing global threat posed by cybercriminal syndicates operating across borders,” Adejobi stated.
In addition to cybercrime allegations, the suspects face charges related to illegal immigration and links to human trafficking networks.
Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun reaffirmed the Force’s dedication to leveraging advanced technology to protect Nigeria’s citizens both physically and digitally.