The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 92 individuals suspected of internet fraud in a large-scale sting operation conducted across multiple locations in Benin City.
The operation, carried out on Monday, September 29, 2025, by operatives of the commission’s Benin Zonal Directorate, followed what the EFCC described as “credible intelligence” on cybercrime activities in the state.
In a statement released on Wednesday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the EFCC confirmed that 11 vehicles and numerous mobile devices were recovered from the suspects during the raid.
“All lawful procedures of arrest were followed in the course of the operation. Preliminary investigations by the Commission linked the suspects with various forms of internet-related fraud. They will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the statement read.
The commission assured that all 92 suspects arrested in Benin City will be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
The arrests are the latest in a series of EFCC crackdowns targeting suspected cybercriminals in Edo State. In August 2025, the Commission arrested 47 suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City during a similar operation, recovering vehicles, phones, and laptops.
Earlier in the year, in February 2025, another 47 suspects were apprehended in Ekpoma, Edo State, during coordinated raids. Those arrests underscored the agency’s continued focus on the state, which has been identified as a hotspot for cybercrime.
Beyond arrests, the Benin Zonal Directorate has also secured court convictions. In July 2025, a Benin City court convicted 32 individuals on charges ranging from advance fee fraud to retention of proceeds of crime, highlighting the EFCC’s efforts to ensure that suspects face judicial consequences.
The crackdown in Edo comes on the heels of other large-scale operations across Nigeria.
On September 23, 2025, EFCC operatives in Ilorin, Kwara State, arrested 28 suspected internet fraudsters in Tanke, University Road, Oshin, and Agbabiaka areas. That operation led to the seizure of seven luxury cars, two motorcycles, and multiple electronic devices.
Similarly, in July 2025, the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Directorate apprehended 48 suspects in Abeokuta, Ogun State, recovering vehicles, laptops, mobile phones, and even a pump-action rifle.
In May 2025, joint operations in Abia, Kano, and Nasarawa States led to the arrest of 78 suspects, further underscoring the Commission’s nationwide strategy against cybercrime.
Cybercrime, popularly referred to as ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ in Nigeria, continues to pose social and economic challenges in the country, with Edo State often emerging as a hotspot.
The EFCC has repeatedly stressed its commitment to tackling the menace through intelligence-driven operations, asset seizures, and prosecutions.
