EFCC arrests 21 cyber fraudsters in Lagos estate raid

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 21 suspected cyber fraudsters during a raid on Applewood Estate along Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State, recovering five exotic cars.

The commission said its Lagos Directorate 1 operatives carried out the operation around 5am on Monday, October 26, following surveillance of suspects allegedly defrauding victims through gift cards, cryptocurrencies and international money transfers while impersonating other people.

In a statement on Tuesday, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said preliminary investigations indicted 19 of the 21 suspects, while the remaining two had been released.

He added that the indicted suspects would be arraigned in court.

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The commission also said a young woman who allegedly attempted to alert the suspects by making telephone calls during the operation was temporarily held, and her phone confiscated until the operation ended. The phone was subsequently returned to her.

The EFCC maintained that the operation was conducted professionally, denying that its operatives harassed, intimidated or unlawfully arrested anyone.

It urged members of the public to condemn cybercrime, saying such activities damage Nigeria’s reputation, while reaffirming its commitment to tackling financial crimes and corruption.

The commission also said it remained open to constructive engagement but warned against attempts to undermine its operations.