EFCC operatives nab 60 internet fraudsters in Akwa Ibom

No fewer than 60 internet fraudsters have been arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at The Uyo Zonal office.

The commission’s Zonal Head in Uyo, Mr Garba Dugum, revealed this claim by the commission on Tuesday at a news briefing in Uyo.

He spoke about the collaboration between the commission and America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the fight against cybercrimes.

Dugum who was represented by his deputy, Alex Ebbah, said the zonal office was acting according to the directives of its acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

He said Magu had given a marching order, which motivated them to launch an independent raid against the suspected fraudsters, culminating in strategic raids and onslaught on their hideouts.

Dugum said: “In furtherance to the acting chairman’s directive to the zones, we have launched intensive investigative actions against this infamous ‘Yahoo Yahoo Boys’, culminating in strategic raids and onslaught on their hideouts.

“Our efforts have recorded tremendous success, which resulted in over 60 arrests, 37 convictions and recovery of a number of posh cars and properties suspected to have been acquired through the proceeds of the crime.”

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He said the commission has gone beyond arrest, investigation, prosecution and conviction of Internet fraudsters to the prevention of the act by embarking on sensitisation programmes to educate youths on the implication and the need to stay away from the crime.

Dugum hailed the collaboration with FBI and other international law enforcement agencies in the fight against Internet fraudsters, saying his office has received about 20 cases of Internet fraud reported by the FBI through the United States Department of Justice.

He said his office through such collaborations had received over 20 cases of Internet fraud reported directly by the FBI through the United States Department of Justice, some of which are under investigation.

He listed the cases received through Mutual Legal Assistance by other international law enforcement agencies to include five from Hong Kong Police, five from Danish and Norwegian police and four from Israeli police.

Others include three from Austrian police, one from Swedish police, one from Zambian police and another from Bulgarian police.

He said the investigation of the cases had resulted in seven arrests involving a whopping sum of money in foreign currencies, which the fraudsters defrauded their victims.

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