By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Nigeria Police Force has secured the conviction of 21 foreign nationals linked to a major cybercrime syndicate, in what authorities describe as one of the country’s largest crackdowns on online fraud.
Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement from the Force Headquarters in Abuja that the convicted individuals were part of a network implicated in large-scale internet fraud, hacking, and related offenses.
They were among 130 suspects, mostly of Chinese and Malaysian origin, alongside 17 Nigerian collaborators arrested in November 2024 during a coordinated raid in Abuja.
Following extensive investigations, including digital forensics and expert testimony, the suspects were arraigned on December 2, 2024.
As of August 1, 2025, 21 of the foreign defendants had been found guilty by a competent court, while trials for the remaining accused are still ongoing.
“The Police, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, remains committed to ensuring full accountability and justice in this matter,” Adejobi said, warning that Nigeria would not be a safe haven for cybercriminals.
The convictions are seen as a major milestone in efforts to dismantle sophisticated cybercrime networks and safeguard the country’s digital infrastructure.
