Tuesday, February 18, 2025 - A joint operation between the Nigeria Police Force and the National Police Agency of Japan has led to the arrest of 11 suspects involved in various cybercrimes such as identity theft, romance scams, and computer-related fraud targeting Japanese victims.
The Force spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this in a
statement on Monday, February 17, 2025, said the crackdown followed a report
received on April 3, 2024, detailing five cybercrime cases linked to 13
individuals operating from Nigeria.
According to Adejobi, the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, in
collaboration with Nigeria’s National Central Bureau and NCB Tokyo, launched an
extensive investigation that led to the arrests.
“The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in collaboration with the National Police Agency of Japan (NPA), has strengthened collaborative efforts aimed at combating the ever-growing menace of cybercrime,” the statement read.
"In a significant event, a press briefing at the NPF National
Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) highlighted the strength and effectiveness of the
ongoing international partnership, focusing on the successful operation that
resulted in the arrest of 11 suspects involved in serious crimes such as
identity theft, romance scams, and computer-related fraud that targeted
Japanese victims from Nigeria.
"On April 3, 2024, the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, working in
conjunction with Nigeria’s National Central Bureau and the NCB Tokyo, received
reports regarding five cybercrime cases linked to 13 identified threat actors
operating from Nigeria. The subsequent investigation led to the apprehension of
eleven individuals and unveiled an extensive network that exploited social
media platforms, particularly Instagram, to lure unsuspecting victims into
fraudulent romantic relationships.
"Victims were duped into transferring funds through wire
transactions, which were eventually converted into cryptocurrency and funneled
to various digital wallets in Nigeria.
"The preliminary stages of the investigation yielded the recovery
of $33,320, with ongoing efforts to reclaim additional stolen funds and
dismantle the entire syndicate responsible for these crimes.
“The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to safeguarding
lives and property in both the physical and digital space and stands ready to
deploy all available resources and leverage emerging technologies to combat
cybercrime. The NPF remains steadfast in its resolve to protect our nation and
ensure public safety for all.”
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