Police operatives from Zone 16 Command, headquartered in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, have arrested six suspects for alleged involvement in cybercrime.
The arrests were made on Wednesday at Progress Estate, Eneka, Rukpoku, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to a statement by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emonena Gunn, the operation was carried out by the Zonal Anti-Money Laundering/Countering Financing Terrorism team, led by CSP Isaac Uhawha.
The suspects, all male, were identified as Shimkayah Oju Ibor, 18; Jack Prosper, 22; Stephen Martins, 29; Micah Douglas, 22, all from Rivers State; Emmanuel Chinedu, 34, from Anambra State; and Uche Darlington Mark, 33, from Abia State.
Items seized during the operation include a white SUV Mercedes GLK 350 (2009 model), ritual items such as spiritual soaps and red cloth, two laptops, multiple phones, other electronic devices, and Canadian Loud (a hard drug).
The statement indicated that these items were believed to be tools used in the suspects’ cybercrime operations.
The suspects confessed to defrauding victims of over ₦700 million in total.
Among their victims were a Finnish woman, Kirsi, who lost €1,300, and an American woman, Brenda, defrauded of $12,000.
The suspects impersonated a Canadian actor, Keanur Weeves, to carry out their scams.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 16 Command, Adebola Hamzat, commended the operatives for their efforts and reaffirmed the zone’s commitment to combating cybercrime.
Gunn also assured residents of Bayelsa and Rivers States of the command’s dedication to tracking, prosecuting cybercriminals, and ensuring justice under Nigerian law.
“The suspects will be arraigned and prosecuted once investigations are concluded,” the statement added.
The police encouraged the public to report suspicious activities as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the cyberspace.