The Nigeria Police Force has brought 113 foreign nationals before the Federal High Court in Abuja, following their recent arrest on charges related to cybercrime and other offenses.
This information was shared in a statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to Adejobi, the charges include computer-related fraud, unlawful access to data, marketing scams, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal immigration. He noted that the arraignment is the result of extensive investigations that revealed the alleged participation of these individuals in a variety of criminal activities, including cybercrime, immigration violations, and human trafficking operations. The suspects were apprehended on November 3 in Jahi, a suburb within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by operatives from the Zone 7 command and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) Abuja.
During the investigation, NPF-NCCC operatives collected a significant amount of digital evidence believed to be crucial to the syndicate’s cybercrime activities. The confiscated items include a Black Toyota Tundra, various laptops and smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, Harman/Kardon sound systems, MTN, Huawei, Airtel, and D-Link routers, Starlink routers, gamepads, a Sony PlayStation 5, a central processing unit, multiple SIM cards from both local and foreign service providers, high-capacity servers, drones, specialized cyber equipment, as well as international passports, identity cards, and travel documents.
Adejobi stated that these assets are thought to have been utilized in executing different cybercrime activities, such as unauthorized data breaches and fraudulent marketing schemes. He emphasized, “The scale and sophistication of the operation highlight the growing global threat posed by cybercriminal syndicates operating across borders.”
He further explained, “The arraignment of these 113 foreign nationals is a direct result of thorough investigations revealing their alleged involvement in criminal activities related to cybercrime, immigration violations, and human trafficking networks.”
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, praised the Nigeria Police Force’s capability and expertise in combating cybercrimes and safeguarding cyberspace both in Nigeria and internationally. He commended the operatives who were instrumental in arresting the 113 foreign nationals.
Egbetokun emphasized the ongoing collaboration with international law enforcement agencies and embassies to track and prosecute cybercriminals, as well as to combat cybercrime and other transnational criminal activities, ensuring that offenders are held accountable under Nigerian law. He reiterated the force’s commitment to leveraging emerging technological advancements to protect Nigerian citizens in both physical and digital realms, assuring that the police are well-equipped to tackle cybercrime effectively.
