Police Arrest 82 Suspects for Financial and Cyber Crimes

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 82 individuals in the first month of 2025 for financial and cyber crimes. These include internet fraud, identity theft, and cryptocurrency scams. The crackdown was carried out through the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC).

This was made known at a press briefing on 6th of February, 2025, the police paraded some of the suspects involved in multi-million-dollar fraud. Victims included individuals and organizations within and outside Nigeria.

Among the suspects are Saidu Adam Usman and Yusuf Umar, accused of creating and distributing compromised financial accounts. Their fraudulent activities reportedly amounted to over ₦400 million.

The duo used pre-registered SIM cards and fake email addresses to create Moniepoint profiles. They then secured these accounts for a foreign contractor after fraudulently obtaining BVNs and KYC details.

Another suspect, Rabiu Aliyu Salisu, also known as Rabo, was arrested for identity theft and money laundering. He posed as an American, Matthew Ramsey, and defrauded a woman of $597,000.

In a separate case, Idowu Smart Emmanuel was apprehended for cyberstalking and false accusations. He later admitted to making baseless allegations, leading to his arrest.

The police warned against using social media for fraud and cyberstalking. They urged the public to verify online transactions and avoid large financial dealings without due diligence.