Abuja, Nigeria — In a sweeping raid aimed at dismantling a cybercrime network, the Nigeria Police Force has arrested 130 individuals, including 113 foreign nationals, for alleged cybercrimes and hacking activities that may pose a serious threat to national security.
The operation, which took place at a building near the Next Cash and Carry area in Jabi, Abuja, uncovered a coordinated criminal network suspected of using advanced digital tools to facilitate illegal activities.
The arrested suspects include nationals from China and Malaysia—87 males and 26 females—alongside 17 Nigerians, comprising four men and 30 women.
The arrests were executed on Saturday, November 2, 2024, in an operation led by Assistant Inspector-General of Police AIG Benneth Igweh, under the authority of Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja.
Officers from the Zone 7 Command and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) collaborated on the raid, seizing computers and other sophisticated electronic devices used by the suspects.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has ordered an extensive investigation to assess the full scale of the alleged criminal activities, evaluate potential security risks, and establish any connections within or outside of Nigeria that may deepen the impact of this cybercrime network.
“We are investigating the matter and scientifically analysing the exhibits recovered,” said ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, in a statement issued on November 3.
He assured the public that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations and pledged ongoing updates on the case’s developments.
The raid reflects the Nigeria Police Force’s intensified efforts to crack down on cybercrime and safeguard national security, especially with the recent rise in digital crimes.