The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has reaffirmed the capabilities and expertise of the Nigerian Police Force in tackling cybercrimes and protecting cyberspace in Nigeria and beyond.
The Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Monday, said the IGP made this known while commending the Police operatives attached to Zone 7 command and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) Abuja for bursting a group of foreign Nationals involved in a series of cybercrimes including internet fraud and marketing scams.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested on the 3rd of November 2024 in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It added that during an investigation, operatives of the NPF-NCCC recovered a vast array of digital critical evidence, believed to be instrumental in the syndicate’s cybercrime operations.
The recovered items include 1 Black Toyota Tundra vehicle, laptops of different makes, smartphones of various brands, tablets, desktops, computers, keyboards, Harman/Kardon sound system, MTN routers, Huawei routers, and Airtel routers.
Others are D-Link routers, Starlink routers, Gamepads, 1 Sony PlayStation 5, a central processing unit, Multiple SIM cards from both local international service Providers, High-capacity servers, Drones and specialized cyber equipment, international passports, identity cards, and travel documents.
These assets recovered are suspected to have been used in executing a range of cybercrime activities, including unauthorized data breaches, marketing scams, and other cybercrime activities.
The scale and sophistication of the operation underscores the increasing global threat posed by cybercriminal syndicates operating across borders.
“As a follow-up to the investigation and recoveries, compiled with credible evidence against the suspects, 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 arraignment of these suspects follows extensive investigations that have uncovered the alleged involvement of these individuals in criminal activities spanning both cybercrime, immigration offenses, and human trafficking networks.
“The Nigeria Police Force will continue to work closely with international law enforcement agencies and Embassies to track and prosecute cybercriminals, combat cybercrime and other forms of transnational criminal activity,y and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under Nigerian law,” the statement added.
The IGP reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to leverage the emerging technological advancement to protect Nigerians both physically and in the digital space.
He reiterates that the Force is well-dedicated and well-equipped to combat cybercrime cases in the country.
