The Nigeria Police have charged 133 foreign citizens to court for cybercrime offences in the country.
The foreign nationals, according to Nigeria Police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, were arrested in Jahi, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory on November 3.
In a statement on Monday, Adejobi disclosed that the operation was carried out by Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center and operatives of Zone 7.
He stated that the Nigeria Police under Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun, was committed to tackling cybercrimes and protecting cyberspace in Nigeria and beyond.
The statement read in part: “The suspects were arrested on the 3rd of November 2024 in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). During 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 and keyboards, Harman/Kardon sound system, MTN routers, Huawei routers, Airtel routers, 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 offences and human trafficking networks.”
Adejobi added that Nigeria Police would 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 and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under Nigerian law.”
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to leveraging the emerging technological advancement to protect the citizens of Nigeria both physically and in the digital space.
