Kehinde Fajobi
The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned 113 foreign nationals at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and unlawful access to data.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the arrests were made on November 3, 2024, during a raid in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.
The operation was carried out by the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and Zone 7 Command.
The police recovered various digital equipment allegedly used by the suspects in their operations.
Items seized included laptops, smartphones, tablets, routers, central processing units, high-capacity servers, drones, SIM cards, gaming devices, international passports, and other travel documents.
A Black Toyota Tundra vehicle and a Harman/Kardon sound system were also confiscated.
“These assets recovered are suspected to have been used in executing a range of cybercrime activities, including unauthorised data breaches, marketing scams, and other cyber activities,” Adejobi said.
“The scale and sophistication of the operation underscore the increasing global threat posed by cybercriminal syndicates operating across borders.”
In addition to cybercrime charges, the suspects face allegations of immigration offences and links to human trafficking networks.
Adejobi added, “The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arraigned the 113 foreign nationals facing serious charges, including computer-related fraud, unlawful access to data, marketing scams, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal immigration, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, assured the public of the Force’s commitment to leveraging technological advancements to safeguard citizens in both physical and digital spaces.
“The Force is well-dedicated and well-equipped to combat cases of cybercrime in the country,” the statement concluded.
The police pledged to collaborate with international law enforcement agencies and embassies to address transnational criminal activities.