Massive Cyber Fraud Raid: Police Arrest 7 Suspects in Nigeria
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrimes Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested seven suspects in connection with alleged money laundering, sextortion, blackmail, online romance scams, identity theft and other internet-related offences.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the NPF-NCCC, Akaninyene Ezima, disclosed this on Wednesday during a news conference in Abuja.
Ezima said one of the suspects was arrested following a preservation request from the German Federal Police, Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), on February 17 over a flagged internet protocol address linked to a sophisticated Business Email Compromise operation.
He said the investigation, codenamed “Operation Broken Mask”, was conducted in collaboration with the BKA and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) under the Budapest Convention 24/7 Network.
According to him, subscriber checks, Bank Verification Number (BVN) analysis and other investigative procedures helped the police identify the suspect behind the alleged cybercriminal activities.
The operation, authorised by the Inspector-General of Police on June 23, led to the suspect’s arrest on July 20 at his residence in Megamound Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
A search of the residence led to the recovery of digital devices which, according to the police, were subjected to forensic examination and found to contain more than 12.5 million victim email logs involving individuals across over 50 countries.
Ezima said the suspect’s BVN was linked to accounts with six financial institutions and fintech platforms, including Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, FairMoney, Carbon, OPay and PalmPay.
A Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43, allegedly acquired with proceeds of crime, was also recovered.
The police alleged that the suspect obtained phishing kits from a vendor on Telegram and used them to compromise Microsoft 365 login credentials belonging to employees of targeted companies.
Further investigation, Ezima said, established that the suspect allegedly made more than N100 million from the operation.
He added that a prima facie case of computer-related fraud, Business Email Compromise and identity theft had been established against the suspect under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.
Suspect linked to N56.3m investment fraud
Ezima also disclosed the arrest of a technology company owner over alleged international cyber-enabled investment fraud and money laundering.
He said the suspect was arrested following a petition filed on May 11 by the law firm Ugwu Francisca & Co. on behalf of Elizabeth Iruaregbon and Prince Iruaregbon.
The petition alleged criminal conspiracy, advance fee fraud, identity theft and money laundering involving a total loss of N56.3 million.
According to Ezima, the complainants were allegedly induced to invest in a fraudulent WhatsApp-based stock trading platform that promised high returns.
Between March 25 and April 22, they reportedly transferred N56.3 million into accounts allegedly controlled by the syndicate, after which their withdrawal requests were blocked.
The police traced N23.6 million to JPM Enterprise Trading through Kuda Bank, N18.5 million to Ahmad Digital Business through Nomba Microfinance Bank, and N14.2 million to JPM Pro Online Venture through VFD MFB/FalconPa.
Ezima said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect’s technology company allegedly served as a terminal off-ramp for funds linked to the syndicate.
A review of the company’s account with Save Heaven Microfinance Bank between October 30, 2025, and May 31, 2026, reportedly revealed total cash-out inflows and outflows of N3.2 billion.
The AIG said the amount included direct inward transfers of N67.2 million from Ahmad Digital Business and N11.3 million from JPM Pro Online Venture.
He added that further investigations revealed that about N3.6 billion in suspected proceeds of crime was allegedly converted into Tether (USDT) stablecoins through Bybit peer-to-peer transactions, making the funds more difficult to trace and recover.
The suspect was arrested on August 13 at Olaniyi Street, Agiliti, Lagos, following what the police described as intensive technological investigations.
Ezima said the suspect admitted owning Kestart Technology and engaging in peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading on Bybit.
Checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission and examination of a Save Heaven Microfinance Bank board resolution dated October 22, 2025, also reportedly confirmed the suspect as the sole proprietor and operational signatory of Kestart Technology.
Two arrested over identity theft in Anambra
The NPF-NCCC boss further disclosed that two suspects were arrested in Anambra State over alleged conspiracy, identity theft, impersonation and computer-related fraud.
He said the suspects were arrested following a complaint by Faruk Yabo, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
Yabo had alleged that an individual using GSM number 09129288116 stole his identity and impersonated him on WhatsApp and Facebook.
Following the complaint, Ezima said operatives commenced a discreet investigation on August 4 and subsequently arrested the suspects with the aid of technical intelligence.
The police recovered 24 registered and 33 unregistered MTN SIM cards, 26 registered and 18 unregistered Airtel SIM cards, as well as an MTN toolkit.
According to Ezima, one of the suspects admitted being a registered toolkit operator with MTN and Airtel and engaging in the buying and selling of registered and unregistered SIM cards.
The suspect also allegedly admitted creating a social media account using the identity of “Catherine Harry”, purportedly a UK citizen, with the intention of defrauding people in India.
The police said investigations into the cases are ongoing.
