By Muhammad Mamman
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency says it has arrested hundreds of suspected internet fraudsters in a wave of sting operations carried out over the past two months, with many of the suspects traced to hotels and short-let apartments rather than their homes.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, disclosed the development while speaking on the agency’s recent enforcement efforts against cybercrime, commonly known in Nigeria as “yahoo-yahoo”.
“In the last two months, we have carried out hundreds of arrests of yahoo boys on sting operations,” Olukoyede said, underscoring what he described as an intensified crackdown on online fraud networks.
According to him, investigators have observed a shift in the operational patterns of suspects, who now frequently use hotels and serviced apartments to evade detection.
“Some you don’t find in their houses; you find them in hotels and apartments,” the EFCC chairman noted.
The remarks highlight growing concerns within law enforcement circles about the evolving tactics of cybercrime syndicates, as well as the scale of internet fraud in Africa’s most populous country.
The EFCC has repeatedly warned that cybercrime not only damages Nigeria’s international reputation but also fuels other criminal activities, including money laundering and identity theft. Authorities say the agency will sustain its intelligence-led operations and work with hospitality providers and other stakeholders to dismantle the networks involved.
While Olukoyede did not disclose the exact locations of the arrests or the number of suspects charged, he reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to prosecuting offenders in line with the law and strengthening efforts to deter financial crimes nationwide.
