EFCC arrests Ogun fraud suspects, including a cybercrime kingpin in a raid that uncovered luxury items, fake IDs, and ₦200m fraud evidence

EFCC arrests Ogun fraud suspects in a coordinated and intelligence-led operation that has shocked many Nigerians and reignited concerns about rising cybercrime in the country.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed the arrest of 18 individuals allegedly involved in internet fraud activities in Ogun State.

According to a statement issued by the Commission’s Ibadan Zonal Directorate on Wednesday, the suspects were apprehended at the Prime Garden Hotel located along Atun-Iju, Idi-Iroko Road. The operation was executed smoothly without any resistance or incident.

The arrests followed credible intelligence that linked the suspects to a network of online fraud schemes targeting both local and international victims. Among those detained is an alleged fraud kingpin who is accused of swindling a single victim out of more than ₦200 million.

“This individual had built a fraudulent empire by exploiting unsuspecting victims online,” the statement revealed. “He used multiple identities and sophisticated methods to maintain anonymity and carry out large-scale scams.”

The raid led to the recovery of significant evidence. Items seized from the kingpin included a red Lexus IS 250, a box of expensive jewellery, bundles of both foreign and local currency, and fake identity documents.

Particularly notable among the documents were a U.S. driver’s license bearing the name Eva Lovia and an identification card in the name of U.S. military officer Julian Miguel Arroyo.

In addition to these findings, EFCC operatives confiscated several laptops, incriminating documents, another vehicle, and various tools believed to have been used in the execution of cybercrime. All the items are currently being held as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Commission reiterated its resolve to maintain pressure on internet fraud syndicates operating across Nigeria. “The EFCC remains committed to ridding the country of economic and financial crimes. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the statement said.

This latest operation forms part of a broader anti-corruption agenda that has seen increased enforcement efforts in recent months. Cybercrime has become a growing concern, especially among younger demographics enticed by its seemingly fast rewards.

A senior EFCC official familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “These young men are being recruited into a life of crime with promises of quick money. What they don’t realise is that the consequences are real, and the EFCC is closing in.”

News of the arrests has triggered mixed reactions online. While some Nigerians praised the EFCC for a job well done, others questioned the ease with which suspected fraudsters are able to operate in hotels and urban centres without immediate detection.

“This is a wake-up call,” commented a user on X (formerly Twitter). “How can people keep falling for these scams? And how are these operations still so easy to run?”

As investigations proceed, the EFCC has pledged to prosecute all individuals found culpable. Legal experts anticipate that the kingpin and others will face multiple charges related to cybercrime, identity theft, and money laundering.

For now, the EFCC arrests Ogun fraud suspects in what could be a decisive moment in the agency’s long-standing war against economic crimes.

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Whether this crackdown leads to lasting change remains to be seen, but the public message is loud and clear: online crime is no longer a safe refuge.