ABUJA; The Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) has successfully recovered a staggering N8,821,001,881.80 (Eight Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty-One Million, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-One Naira, Eighty Kobo), 115,237.91 USDT, and $84,000 (Eighty-Four Thousand Dollars) from wire fraudsters in 2024
The retrieved amount has also been handed over to the various victims of the cybercrime.
Force spokesman, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this feat in a statement on Tuesday, January 7, said the achievement reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to protecting citizens and ensuring justice for those affected by fraudulent activities.
ACP Adejobi recalled that in the past year, the Cybercrime Unit actively engaged in strategic operations, resulting in the arrests and prosecutions of over 751 individuals involved in cybercrime.
He also revealed that the NPF-NCCC recovered a total of 685 devices that were used in perpetrating the nefarious activities.
The Force spokesman listed 467 mobile phones, 137 laptops and computers, 46 routers, 4 servers, 1 drone, and 4 Starlink devices as items recovered from the wire fraud suspects.
According to him, the operations also led to the confiscation of 16 houses, 39 plots of land, 14 land documents, 26 vehicles and further dismantling the infrastructure supporting cybercriminal activities in the country.
“In recognition of its outstanding performance and dedication, the NPF-NCCC has been awarded the title of the Best Cybercrime Unit in Africa for 2024 by the INTERPOL Cybercrime Directorate based in Singapore, securing the top position among 54 participating African countries. These achievements reflects the dedication of the Nigeria Police Force to fighting cybercrime and enhancing the safety of citizens in the digital space.
“In furtherance to efforts towards keeping the cyberspace safe, operatives of the NPF-NCCC have apprehended 4 suspects identified as Douglass Victor ‘m’, Egbo Efe Martins ‘m’, Lucky Adesunloye ‘m’, and Ndifreke Joseph Moody ‘m’, for various cyber-related offences.
“The Nigeria Police remains committed towards combating cyber threats, staying steps ahead of cybercriminals, thereby enhancing the nation’s overall cybersecurity framework and protecting the welfare of its citizens in the digital era. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant and exercise caution when sharing sensitive data or interacting with unfamiliar online entities, cultivating a culture of cyber awareness and promoting responsible online behavior are essential components in fortifying the defenses against cyber threats,” Adejobi stated.
