Metro
EFCC Raids Lagos Building, Arrest 792 Internet Fraudsters in One Fell Swoops
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has carried out its largest single-day operation against cryptocurrency and romance scam networks, arresting 792 suspects in Lagos.
The EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed during a press briefing that the operation, conducted at a seven-storey building known as the Big Leaf Building at No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, led to the apprehension of 193 foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two individuals from Kharzartan, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian.
He said the raid followed months of surveillance and intelligence gathering on the syndicate’s activities.
Uwujaren described the building as designed to mimic a corporate financial headquarters, was allegedly used to train Nigerian recruits in romance and investment scams.
The official said the investigators found the building equipped with high-end desktop computers, and over 500 SIM cards were recovered from just one floor.
He stated that the syndicate reportedly recruited Nigerian youths with advanced computer skills, training them for two weeks on impersonation techniques to target victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Uwujaren explained that the recruits created fake online profiles to lure victims through platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. Once trust was established, victims were directed to a fraudulent investment platform, ‘www.yooto.com’, where activation fees started at $35.
He revealed that the Nigerian recruits were unaware of the full scope of the operation.
“They worked under the supervision of foreign syndicate members and were paid either in cash or through personal accounts without formal employment contracts.
He noted that after securing victims, the recruits were cut off from the operation while the foreign kingpins completed the scams.
The director pointed out that the recovered items included desktop computers, mobile phones, laptops, and vehicles.
He revealed that the EFCC has obtained statements from the suspects and screened their devices, noting that all suspects are being detained under a valid remand warrant, with plans to arraign them in court soon.
Uwujaren highlighted the international nature of the crime, stressing the role of foreign nationals in exploiting Nigeria’s reputation and contributing to global fraud.
“This operation shows that the notion that Nigerians are solely behind these frauds is incorrect. Foreigners are leveraging our unfortunate reputation to establish criminal enterprises,” he said.
“The EFCC is collaborating with foreign partners to ensure that the arrested individuals face justice.
“There will be no hiding places for criminals in Nigeria,” he added.
A middle-aged woman, Christine Chika Anyanwu, who was paralysed for one year, has shared the incredible story of how she miraculously regained the use of her legs.
Anyanwu who lives in the United Kingdom gave her testimony at Zion Ministry, Okota, Lagos, last Wednesday. She disclosed that her problem started on March 26, 2025, when she collapsed at work in London and became unconscious, and was later diagnosed with functional neurological disorder.
After four months of admission in the hospital, she was discharged to continue treatment from home. She suffered several falls and multiple seizures at home and damaged her spine, and this compounded the problem. She was confined to a wheelchair for one year, with all the medical specialists she consulted in the United Kingdom saying she was unlikely to walk again.
Anyanwu said she was on the verge of giving up on life, but decided to make one final effort by heeding her mother’s counsel to seek for God’s intervention at Zion Prayer Movement Outreach in Lagos. Despite discouragement from siblings and a Catholic Nun who warned her not to go to Zion, and against the advice of her doctors not to travel over a long distance in her condition, she embarked on the trip to Lagos.
It was at last Wednesday’s Adoration programme of the ministry, that the Spiritual Director, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, who noticed the woman confined to a mobility scooter, conducted a deliverance and prayer session for her.
What followed threw the auditorium into a frenzy as Anyanwu who had neither used her legs not stood up from her wheelchair got up from the scooter and started walking. When she returned to share her testimony, her siblings and the Nun who advised her against going to Zion Ministry now joined in celebrating her healing.
As part of efforts to ensure a transparent recruitment of 50,000 police constables, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has co-opted the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) as a critical partner in the screening process.
Head of Protocol and Public Affairs at PSC Headquarters, Abuja, Torty Njoku Kalu, said in a statement on Thursday that the decision was jointly taken during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the PSC in Abuja.
According to him, this forms part of the final preparations for the physical and credentials screening stage of the recruitment exercise, scheduled to commence on Monday, March 9, 2026, at designated locations across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd.), commended the PCRC for its relentless sacrifices and commitment to national security. He acknowledged PCRC’s tradition of investing personal resources in national security, and urged it to bring that same level of dedication to the recruitment process.
“The Commission is resolutely poised to ensure that only the finest and most credible Nigerians wear the uniform of a police constable. An effective police force is built on the quality of its recruitment,” DIG Argungu stated.
“This is why we have called upon you, the PCRC, and other stakeholders to serve as the guardians of this process.”
He charged the PCRC state chairmen to work with PSC officials, state employment and career departments, as well as the NPF State Intelligence Department (SID), to scrutinise applicants.
Their mandate includes verifying character traits to prevent individuals with questionable backgrounds from infiltrating the Force.
Responding on behalf of the PCRC National Chairman, Alhaji Ibraheem Olaniyan, the Deputy National President (North), Amb. Wada Sadiq, expressed profound gratitude to the PSC for the confidence reposed in them.
He pledged the Committee’s full support in selecting credible Nigerians for the Force.
The Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has reportedly removed Benjamin Hundeyin as the Force Public Relations Officer (PRO) and replaced him with a new appointee, though the name hasn’t been officially announced.
Hundeyin was previously serving as the Lagos Command PRO before being promoted to the national role.
This move comes as part of Disu’s efforts to revamp the Nigeria Police Force and improve its public image.
As the 23rd IGP, Disu has emphasized professionalism, accountability, and transparency, warning officers that there will be no tolerance for misconduct or abuse of power.
