The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 32 individuals in Bauchi State for their alleged involvement in online fraud schemes. The arrest was carried out last Friday by operatives from the Gombe Zonal Command, following a well-coordinated raid informed by credible intelligence.
According to the anti-graft agency, the suspects were picked up in the Sabon Kaura and Gwalameji areas of Bauchi metropolis, both flagged as hotspots for suspicious cyber-related activities. The arrests were confirmed in an official statement posted on the EFCC’s verified Facebook page on Monday.
During the operation, a wide array of items believed to be connected to cybercrime operations were recovered. These include 15 iPhones, nine Samsung mobile phones, one Infinix phone, three Redmi phones, two iPads, and eight laptop computers. The EFCC also confiscated one Peugeot 406 vehicle, four Neonx Auto motorcycles, two PlayStation 4 consoles, a PlayStation 5, a Maxi E50KWH generator, and a pistol.
Investigators believe the recovered items were either used in executing fraudulent schemes or acquired through illicit proceeds. The EFCC has stated that once investigations are complete, all 32 suspects will be formally charged in court.
This latest bust is part of the Commission’s intensified crackdown on internet fraud across Nigeria, as it continues to dismantle online criminal networks that target unsuspecting victims both locally and abroad.
The agency has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious cyber activity as it works to ensure a more transparent and secure digital space in the country.