The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of 11 suspects involved in cybercrimes targeting Japanese nationals, following a joint operation with the National Police Agency of Japan.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrests stemmed from investigations into multiple cyber fraud cases reported by Japanese authorities.
“On April 3, 2024, the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, working in conjunction with Nigeria’s National Central Bureau and the NCB Tokyo, received reports regarding five cybercrime cases linked to 13 identified threat actors operating from Nigeria,” the statement read.
The police revealed that the suspects operated an elaborate scam network, using social media—particularly Instagram—to lure victims into fraudulent romantic relationships.
Once trust was established, victims were deceived into making wire transfers, which were then converted into cryptocurrency and moved into digital wallets in Nigeria.
So far, investigators have recovered $33,320 linked to the cyber fraud operation, with efforts ongoing to trace more stolen funds and dismantle the entire syndicate.
Adejobi reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to tackling cybercrime, stating that the NPF would continue to leverage technology and international collaboration to protect the public from digital fraud.
