The Nigeria Police Force has secured the conviction of 59 additional foreign nationals linked to a sophisticated international cybercrime syndicate, in what officials are calling one of the country’s largest cybercrime crackdowns to date. The convictions bring the total number of convicted suspects in the high-profile case to 85.
According to a statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the convictions follow months of forensic investigation by the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC). The suspects—mostly of Chinese and Malaysian origin—were part of a syndicate uncovered in Abuja’s Jahi district in November 2024. At the time, police operatives arrested 130 suspects, including 17 Nigerians, for their alleged involvement in large-scale internet fraud, sophisticated hacking operations, and digital identity theft.
Twenty-one of the accused were sentenced in August 2025, while five others were convicted in September. With the most recent 59 convictions, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, described the development as a clear signal that Nigeria is “no longer a playground for cybercriminals.” He reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge digital tools, artificial intelligence, and international partnerships to counter rising cyber threats.
This latest success comes amid a broader surge in cybercrime cases across Nigeria. Just last month, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 67 suspects in a coordinated operation across Lagos and Ibadan, seizing laptops and cryptocurrency wallets linked to global scam networks. Similarly, in July 2025, the EFCC secured the conviction of two social media influencers in Port Harcourt for running phishing schemes that defrauded victims in Europe and North America of over ₦500 million.
Recent data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Interpol shows that Nigeria ranks among the top 10 countries globally affected by cyber attacks, with financial fraud, ransomware, and identity theft being the most prevalent. Interpol’s 2025 African Cyber Threat Report revealed that cybercrime costs the continent over $4 billion annually, with Nigeria accounting for nearly 30% of reported incidents.
Security analysts have noted that the Nigerian government’s increased investment in cybersecurity infrastructure is beginning to yield tangible results. The establishment of the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, coupled with improved collaboration with agencies such as Interpol, Europol, and the FBI, has significantly strengthened Nigeria’s capacity to trace digital footprints and prosecute offenders.
In his statement, IGP Egbetokun reiterated that the Police Force will not relent in its mission to “safeguard Nigeria’s cyberspace” and urged citizens to remain vigilant online. “These convictions demonstrate our determination to bring both local and foreign actors to justice,” he said. “Cybercrime is a global menace, but Nigeria will continue to be proactive in neutralizing threats through intelligence-driven operations.”
The prosecution of the remaining suspects in the Abuja cybercrime case is still ongoing, with more convictions expected in the coming months as Nigeria consolidates its position as one of Africa’s leading enforcers of digital law.
