The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 21 suspected cybercrime fraudsters during a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State.
The operation was carried out by operatives of the Lagos Directorate 1 at about 5 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026.
In a statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday, October 27, the EFCC said the suspects allegedly obtained money from unsuspecting victims through gift cards, cryptocurrencies and international money transfers while impersonating various individuals.
The commission also said five exotic cars were recovered during the operation, which it attributed to surveillance and reconnaissance conducted before the arrests.
According to the EFCC, a young woman who allegedly attempted to alert the suspects by making telephone calls was briefly held, and her phone was confiscated until the operation ended. The phone was later returned to her.
The commission said preliminary investigations implicated 19 of the 21 suspects, while the remaining two had been released.
It added that the 19 indicted suspects would be arraigned in court immediately.
The EFCC urged Nigerians to support efforts to combat financial crimes, while insisting that the operation was professionally conducted without harassment, intimidation or unlawful arrests.
