Lagos police nab 3 suspects in cybercrime, forgery, cultism crackdown
The Nigeria Police Force’s Zone 2 Command in Onikan, Lagos, has captured three people suspected of criminal conspiracy, computer fraud, forgery, impersonation, and cult-related crimes.
Olohundare Jimoh, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), confirmed the arrests in a statement to press on Thursday.
DSP Gbenga Afolayan, the command’s spokeswoman, stated that the operation was the outcome of ongoing intelligence-led operations to combat fraud and cybercrime in Lagos and Ogun states.
The arrests were made on January 7, 2025, following credible intelligence gathered by the Zonal Intelligence Department with the operation focusing on the Lekki-Ajah corridor.
According to Jimoh, the suspects, aged 24, 33, and 36, each played distinct roles within a coordinated cybercrime network.
“The 24-year-old was initially intercepted along Chevron Drive while driving a Porsche. He later admitted to engaging in cybercrime activities. A follow-up search at his residence led to the detention of the other two suspects,” Jimoh said.
Investigations revealed that the suspects orchestrated a range of fraudulent schemes, including romance scams, account manipulation, and cryptocurrency fraud.
The AIG explained that the 24-year-old managed cyber fraud operations and created fraudulent accounts, the 33-year-old handled illicit financial transactions, while the 36-year-old conducted cryptocurrency scams via platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and online banking.
During the operation, the police recovered several items linked to criminal activity. Jimoh listed the confiscated exhibits to include:
Three HP laptops, one Apple MacBook, two tablets, and nine iPhones used in fraudulent schemes
Six international passports
Lagos State vehicle plates (LSR 235 JM, FKJ 558 JK) and three dealer plate numbers
Military camouflage attire, a mini printer, and a toy gun
98 pieces of suspected counterfeit $100 notes
Suspected Indian hemp and related smoking paraphernalia
The AIG noted that investigations are ongoing in collaboration with relevant agencies to verify the authenticity of the counterfeit currency and examine the illicit drugs recovered.
He assured that the suspects would be prosecuted following the conclusion of the investigation and confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional members of the criminal network.
“The command remains committed to strengthening efforts against cybercrime, fraud, and related criminal activities within our jurisdiction,” Jimoh added.
