Operatives of the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended forty-two suspected internet fraudsters in Gashua, Yobe State.
The large-scale operation, which took place on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, marks a significant escalation in the commission’s efforts to dismantle digital crime networks beyond the country’s typical southern hotspots, signaling that no region is beyond the reach of anti-graft enforcement.
The arrests were the result of a meticulously executed sting operation launched after the EFCC acted upon credible intelligence detailing the suspects’ deep involvement in various forms of computer-related fraud.
Raiding multiple locations across Gashua Local Government Area, the commission’s operatives successfully rounded up the individuals, disrupting what appears to be a coordinated network of digital criminals.
The operation underscores the EFCC’s evolving intelligence-gathering capabilities and its commitment to proactive, intelligence-led policing in the fight against internet fraud.
A telling glimpse into the operational profile and potential proceeds of the alleged crimes was provided by the trove of items recovered during the arrests.
The seizure list included seven motorcycles, a Mercedes Benz car, fifty-five mobile phones and laptops, and sophisticated gaming consoles such as PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 systems.
These assets often represent both the tools of the trade for cybercriminals—used for communication, hacking, and social engineering—and the flashy trophies purchased with the illicit proceeds of their activities, painting a picture of a lucrative but illicit enterprise operating in the area.
The EFCC has confirmed that all forty-two suspects are currently undergoing thorough interrogation and will be formally charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
This major crackdown in Gashua serves as a stark warning to individuals engaged in internet-related fraud across the country, demonstrating the EFCC’s widening operational net and its resolve to pursue cybercriminals wherever they may operate, from bustling urban centers to more remote locales.
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