The Delta State Police Command has revealed that an Internet fraud academy, recently raided by the Nigerian Army, lured over 100 teenagers with false promises of training in Bitcoin and forex trading.
According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, the suspects had been deceived into believing they would receive legitimate financial training, only to find themselves trapped in a cybercrime training network known as “Hustling Kingdom.”
The raid, carried out by soldiers from the 3rd Battalion Nigerian Army Barracks, took place in an estate in Warri, leading to the arrest of 123 individuals, most of whom were teenagers.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
Edafe explained that the operation was triggered when one of the teenagers managed to contact a family member using a laptop provided by the academy. Alarmed by the nature of the message, the family alerted the military, prompting the raid.
The PPRO described how the suspects were recruited by agents flaunting fake wealth on social media, targeting young people aged between 17 and 20.
These agents promised lucrative training in cryptocurrency and forex trading, but upon arrival, the teenagers were subjected to physical abuse and exploitation.
“They lure some from Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, and Ibadan to that particular estate and beat the hell out of them, feeding them only when they feel like,” Edafe stated in a video shared on his X page.
Efforts to confirm whether the operators of the fraudulent academy have been arrested were unsuccessful, as Edafe did not respond to calls and messages seeking further details.
