EFCC Arrests 31 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Abuja Raid

Operatives of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested 31 suspected internet fraudsters during a raid on an alleged cybercrime training facility in Abuja on Thursday, April 9. The operation targeted a site in Becki Estate, Karu, within the Federal Capital Territory, where authorities disrupted what they described as organized tutorials on fraudulent online schemes.

The suspects, including two alleged kingpins and a group of trainees, were apprehended in the midst of their instruction, according to the commission. EFCC investigators recovered multiple mobile phones, 18 laptop computers, and other electronic devices believed to have been used in the illicit activities. The agency stated that the facility operated as a structured hub for recruiting and coaching young individuals in cyber fraud techniques, commonly known as "Yahoo" operations in Nigeria.

Preliminary investigations revealed a deceptive recruitment process. Several trainees had been lured from as far as Benue State with promises of legitimate employment opportunities, the EFCC said. Upon arrival, however, they were provided with communication devices, computers, and specialized software to begin...