The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Directorate, has arrested 49 suspected internet fraudsters in coordinated sting operations conducted across Akwa Ibom State.
According to the Commission, 31 of the suspects were apprehended on Monday, September 22, 2025, in separate raids at Ikpa Road, Ekpri Nsukara, Nwaniba, and Shelter Afrik Extension within Uyo metropolis. The remaining 18 were arrested on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, during follow-up operations in Oron and along the Calabar–Itu Road.
The EFCC disclosed that the suspects comprise undergraduates, traders, and artisans allegedly involved in internet-related fraud. Their arrests followed actionable intelligence on the growing activities of cybercrime networks operating within the state.
Items recovered during the sting operations include one car, 54 mobile phones, and nine laptops believed to have been used for fraudulent online activities.
Spokespersons for the EFCC emphasized that the operations form part of ongoing nationwide efforts to curb cybercrime, which continues to target unsuspecting individuals and institutions both locally and internationally.
The Commission further assured that investigations into the suspects’ activities are already underway. Once concluded, the suspects will be arraigned in court to face charges in line with Nigeria’s cybercrime and financial crimes laws.
The EFCC restated its commitment to dismantling internet fraud syndicates and warned youths against embracing cybercrime as a means of livelihood. It also called on parents, guardians, and community leaders to intensify efforts in mentoring young people to pursue legitimate ventures rather than crime.
This latest operation adds to the series of arrests and prosecutions recorded by the EFCC in its clampdown on cybercrime in the South-South region, where internet fraud has been on the rise in recent years.
