EFCC Arrests 19 Suspected Cybercrime Fraudsters in Lekki Raid, Recovers Five Exotic Cars

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 19 suspected cybercrime fraudsters following a dawn raid on Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State, in an operation that initially led to the arrest of 21 individuals.

The commission disclosed that operatives from its Lagos Directorate 1 carried out the sting operation at about 5 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, recovering five exotic cars during the exercise.

According to the EFCC, preliminary investigations implicated 19 of the 21 individuals arrested, while the remaining two were released after being cleared of suspicion at that stage.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the suspects obtained money from unsuspecting victims through various cybercrime schemes involving gift cards, cryptocurrency transactions and international money transfers. It further accused them of impersonating other individuals to facilitate the alleged fraudulent activities.

The commission said the operation followed surveillance and reconnaissance conducted on the suspects’ activities, adding that those indicted would be arraigned in court.

The raid has also drawn attention to an incident involving a young woman who allegedly attempted to alert some of the suspects by making telephone calls while the operation was underway.

Addressing reports surrounding the incident, the EFCC said the woman was held and her mobile phone confiscated until the operation ended, after which the device was returned to her.

The commission maintained that its operatives conducted the exercise professionally, insisting that there was no harassment, intimidation or unlawful arrest during the operation.

However, the agency’s account of the incident and its assurances about the conduct of its operatives remain claims by the commission, which may be independently assessed if complaints or further evidence emerge.

The EFCC urged Nigerians to reject cybercrime and other financial offences, warning that such activities undermine public confidence, expose victims to financial losses and damage Nigeria’s international reputation.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to fighting financial crimes while expressing willingness to engage constructively with the public. The commission, however, warned against what it described as attempts to undermine its anti-corruption mandate.

The five recovered exotic cars are among the items expected to attract attention as investigations progress, although the EFCC’s statement did not establish whether the vehicles were proceeds of crime or provide details of their ownership.

The 19 suspects are expected to face prosecution, but the allegations against them have yet to be proven in court. They remain entitled to the presumption of innocence pending the determination of their cases by a competent court.