The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 17 individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud in Kwara State.
The arrests were carried out during coordinated sting operations by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate in Ilorin and Ifelodun Local Government Area.
According to a statement released Tuesday night by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the suspects were apprehended in several locations including Asa Dam, the Al-Hikmah University area, and Gaa-Odota in Ilorin, as well as Ganmo and Amoyo in Ifelodun LGA.
The operation, conducted on May 13, 2025, was based on actionable intelligence linking the individuals to online fraudulent activities.
Items recovered from the suspects include three luxury vehicles, high-end mobile phones, and laptop computers.
This latest round of arrests follows a similar operation last week, in which 47 suspects were picked up in Ilorin and Ifelodun LGA for alleged involvement in internet fraud.
The EFCC noted that all 17 suspects will be charged in court upon the completion of investigations.
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate, which covers Kwara, Kogi, and Ekiti states, has recorded several arrests in recent months. Between March and October 2024, the directorate apprehended 103 suspected fraudsters in the zone.
In a related operation on March 7, 2024, 48 suspected internet fraudsters and a herbalist were arrested in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, for alleged conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretenses. Recovered items included 10 exotic cars, two motorcycles, 11 laptops, 83 mobile phones, and charms.
All suspects, aged between 17 and 34, were arraigned in court.
Additionally, on October 30, 2024, EFCC operatives raided a hideout in the Offa metropolis of Kwara State, leading to the arrest of 55 more suspects linked to cybercrime.