Category: News | Read time: 3 min read | Tags: EFCC, Lagos, Cybercrime, Nigeria, Crime
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday announced the arrest of 47 suspected cybercriminals following a coordinated multi-location raid across several Lagos communities including Lekki, Surulere, and Ojodu-Berger. The operation, which began in the early hours of Monday morning, was code-named Operation Digital Storm.
Spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the arrests in a statement, noting that the suspects were aged between 19 and 36 and were found in possession of laptops, mobile phones, sim cards, ATM cards linked to multiple accounts, and luxury vehicles suspected to have been acquired through fraudulent means.
How the operation unfolded
Acting on intelligence gathered over a six-week period, EFCC operatives simultaneously stormed twelve locations at 4am on Monday. Residents in the affected areas reported hearing law enforcement vehicles arrive in large numbers before dawn. Several suspects were reportedly caught asleep, with their devices still logged into email accounts and cryptocurrency wallets.
One senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the operation as one of the largest single-day cybercrime sweeps in Lagos in recent memory. “We have been monitoring these networks for weeks. The intelligence was solid and the timing was deliberate,” the official said.
Charges being prepared
The 47 suspects are expected to face charges under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015, which carries penalties of up to seven years imprisonment and asset forfeiture for individuals convicted of internet fraud. Several suspects are also being investigated under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
Items recovered during the raid include 63 phones, 31 laptops, 14 vehicles, and documentation suggesting forged correspondence with international financial institutions.
Rising cybercrime in Nigeria
The arrests come amid a broader crackdown on cybercrime as Nigeria seeks to improve its global reputation on financial integrity. The country was removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2023, a major milestone that authorities are keen to protect.
“Cybercrime does not only harm foreign victims. It damages Nigeria’s image, discourages foreign investment, and creates a culture of corruption among our youth,” Uwujaren said in the statement. “The EFCC remains committed to dismantling these networks wherever they operate.”
Chukwu Vincent Ogbonnia is the founder and lead editor of Viralarena, a Nigerian digital media platform covering breaking news, music, and sport. Based in Abuja, Vincent is a content creator passionate about telling Nigerian stories with speed, accuracy, and cultural authenticity.
Chukwu Vincent Ogbonnia is the founder and lead editor of Viralarena, a Nigerian digital media platform covering breaking news, music, and sport. Based in Abuja, Vincent is a content creator passionate about telling Nigerian stories with speed, accuracy, and cultural authenticity.
