By Elizabeth Godwin
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 93 suspected internet fraudsters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The operation took place on Sunday at the Green Legacy Hotel, situated within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
In a statement issued by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the agency confirmed that the arrests followed a sting operation carried out after receiving credible intelligence on the suspects’ alleged involvement in internet-related crimes.
According to Oyewale, the suspects were apprehended in coordinated raids that took EFCC operatives by surprise. “Upon their arrest, 18 vehicles and various mobile devices were recovered from them,” he disclosed. The items, he added, are now in the agency’s custody and will be subjected to forensic examination as part of ongoing investigations.
The EFCC spokesperson noted that the arrests are part of intensified efforts by the commission to clamp down on cybercrime, popularly known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo’, which has been on the rise in several parts of the country. He said the agency remains committed to tracking, arresting, and prosecuting individuals involved in online scams that defraud unsuspecting victims both locally and internationally.
Oyewale further assured that the suspects will face charges in court as soon as investigations are concluded. The EFCC is currently profiling the arrested individuals to determine the extent of their alleged criminal activities and to establish any possible syndicate networks connected to the case.
The arrests have generated public interest, given the location of the operation within the iconic Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex. Security sources hinted that the Green Legacy Hotel had been under surveillance for weeks before the EFCC moved in.
The latest crackdown comes as part of a broader national campaign against cybercrime, which the EFCC says is damaging Nigeria’s international reputation and threatening its economic stability. Authorities have urged young Nigerians to shun fraudulent activities and embrace legitimate means of livelihood.
