The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Directorate, has arrested 28 suspected internet fraudsters in Kwara State.
According to a statement released by the EFCC Media Office on Tuesday, the suspects were apprehended in a sting operation carried out in the early hours across several areas of Ilorin, including Tanke, University Road, Oshin, and Agbabiaka.
The operation, the commission said, followed credible intelligence linking the individuals to cybercrime activities in the state capital.
Among items recovered during the raid were seven exotic cars, including a latest model Toyota Corolla and a Lexus, two motorcycles, and expensive phones and laptops allegedly used for fraudulent online activities.
“The suspects will be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations,” the EFCC added.
The arrests come amid growing concerns over the rise in cybercrime, which the EFCC says is damaging Nigeria’s economy and worsening its international image.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by CSE Coker Oyegunle, recently warned that internet fraud, money laundering, and economic sabotage cost the country billions of naira annually, undermining job creation and infrastructure development.
“These crimes not only hurt our economy but also lead to stricter visa restrictions for innocent Nigerians,” Olukoyede stated at an event in Port Harcourt on 15 September.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to combating cybercrime and called on youths to shun internet fraud and embrace legal means of livelihood.
