The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defined that its raid on Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State, was aimed toward arresting suspected cybercrime operators accused of defrauding unsuspecting victims by way of reward playing cards, cryptocurrency transactions and worldwide cash transfers.
The fee mentioned the operation adopted surveillance and reconnaissance on the actions of the suspected fraudsters, who allegedly impersonated numerous people to acquire cash from their victims.
The operation, carried out by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Directorate 1 at about 5am on Monday, October 26, resulted within the arrest of 21 suspects and the restoration of 5 unique vehicles.
In an announcement on Tuesday, the EFCC’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale mentioned preliminary investigations had implicated 19 of the arrested suspects, whereas two others had been launched.
He added that the 19 suspects who have been indicted could be arraigned in court docket instantly.
The fee’s rationalization comes amid questions surrounding the operation on the high-profile residential property, with the company insisting that the raid was based mostly on intelligence gathering and was carried out professionally.
According to the EFCC, its operatives carried out pre-arrest surveillance to determine the actions of the suspects earlier than transferring in to apprehend them.
The company mentioned the suspected fraudsters allegedly used completely different strategies, together with reward playing cards, cryptocurrency and worldwide cash transfers, to acquire cash from unsuspecting victims whereas impersonating different people.
The EFCC additionally addressed the circumstances surrounding the detention of a younger lady through the operation.
Oyewale mentioned the lady had tried to alert the suspects by making phone calls whereas the operation was ongoing. Her cellphone was quickly confiscated till the operation was concluded however was subsequently returned to her, the fee mentioned.
The company maintained that the operation was carried out with out harassment, intimidation or the illegal arrest of anybody.
It additionally urged Nigerians to assist efforts to fight financial and monetary crimes, warning that cybercrime actions undermine the nation’s status.
The fee mentioned it remained open to constructive engagement with members of the general public however wouldn’t permit what it described as blackmail and alarmism to frustrate its statutory duties.
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