WATCH THE VIDEO HERE THE Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concerns over the growing presence of organised foreign fraud syndicates in Nigeria. He warned that these criminal groups are recruiting young Nigerians into sophisticated cybercrimes, including cryptocurrency fraud. Olukoyede made this known while receiving participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC 18) from the National Institute for Security Studies, led by Director of Studies Hyginus Ngele. In a statement yesterday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale quoted Olukoyede as saying that these syndicates are not only involved in cybercrime but may also be using cryptocurrency for illegal arms importation into the country. “Another dimension that is not given attention is the discovery, recently, that organised foreign fraud syndicates are establishing cells in Nigerian cities and recruiting young Nigerians into serious organised cybercrimes, including cryptocurrency fraud,” he stated. Olukoyede further revealed that during a recent special operation in Lagos, EFCC operatives arrested 194 foreigners in a single building on Victoria Island. The suspects, including Chinese, Filipinos, Eastern Europeans, and Tunisians, were allegedly engaged in financial crimes, with many lacking valid visas. He added that some of the arrested individuals were already convicted criminals in their home countries who had fled to Africa, using Nigeria and other nations as safe havens. Investigations indicate that these syndicates are expanding their networks across the continent.
Organised foreign fraudsters setting up cells in Nigeria — Olukoyede
