The Police Special Fraud Unit in Lagos State has arrested four serving members of the National Youth Service Corps and eight students of the Gateway Polytechnic, Sapaade, Ogun State for alleged internet fraud.
It was gathered that two other individuals were also arrested by operatives of the PSFU on January 15, 2025, in the Sapaade area of Ogun State.
The spokesperson for the PSFU, Eyitayo Johnson confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday, January 20.
“On the 16th of January 2025, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Godwin Omodeinde, receives in audience leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students, National Association of Polytechnic Students, Association of Southern Nigerian Students, and GAPOSA Students Union Government,” the statement read.
“The visit of the Student Union leaders was to dialogue with the unit following the arrest of 14 persons, ages 18-28 years, at Saapade, Ogun State, on January 15, 2025.
“The arrested suspects, who were suspected members of an internet fraud syndicate operating within Lagos and Ogun States, comprised eight students of Gateway Polytechnic, Ogun State; four NYSC Corps members; and two other persons of unknown status who claimed to be an artist and a cobbler, respectively.”
Addressing the concerns raised by the Student Union leaders, the Commissioner of Police highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong and collaborative partnership between NANS members and the Nigeria Police.
Omodeinde further urged the students’ leaders to uphold their mandate of protecting their members’ welfare while ensuring that individuals involved in misconduct within their ranks are handed over to the police.
“The Commissioner of Police also advised the student union executives to educate their members to desist from cybercrime, which is tarnishing the country’s image and making it difficult for Nigeria to exit the Financial Action Task Force grey list.
“He enumerated the following as implications of Nigeria’s status on the FATF grey list: reduced foreign investment, increased cost of transactions, difficulties in transacting with other countries, increased regulatory scrutiny, loss of revenue for the government, undermining of financial markets, reduced cross-border transactions, and loss of correspondent banking relationships, among others.
“The student union leadership commended CP Omodeinde for his outstanding leadership style, diplomacy, and fairness, as the engagement will further improve relations/understanding between the police and student community.”
