In a major clampdown on cybercrime activities, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters, all of whom are undergraduate students of Bayero University Kano (BUK).
The arrests were made during a sting operation conducted on Monday, July 22, opposite the BUK New Site in Kano State. The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the operation in a statement released from the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Oyewale, the operation was based on credible intelligence that linked the suspects to various forms of cybercrime, including identity theft, financial scams, and other fraudulent online activities.
“The suspects were arrested after weeks of discreet surveillance, which confirmed their active involvement in internet-related fraud,” Oyewale stated.
During the raid, EFCC operatives recovered several exhibits, including multiple mobile phones, laptops, internet routers, and a Honda Accord vehicle, all believed to have been used in the commission of the alleged crimes.
The Commission emphasized that the crackdown was part of its broader commitment to tackle the rising wave of cybercrime across Nigerian campuses and safeguard the integrity of the nation’s digital and financial ecosystems.
Oyewale further disclosed that the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and profiling at the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Command. Upon the conclusion of investigations, they will be formally charged in court.
The EFCC reiterated its warning to students and young Nigerians to steer clear of internet fraud, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo”, as it continues to deploy intelligence and technology-driven strategies to dismantle criminal networks operating both online and offline.
This latest operation adds to the growing list of arrests made by the Commission in academic institutions across the country, highlighting the increasing involvement of undergraduates in digital financial crimes.
