By Charles Maduka
Seventeen suspected internet fraudsters have been arrested in Kwara State by operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following a series of coordinated sting operations in Ilorin and Ifelodun Local Government Area.
The arrests, carried out on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, happened in different locations including Asa Dam, Al-Hikmah University area, and Gaa-Odota in Ilorin, as well as Ganmo and Amoyo in Ifelodun LGA. According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the suspects were apprehended based on credible intelligence linking them to online scams and fraudulent financial activities.
Items recovered during the operation include three luxury vehicles, several high-end phones, and laptop computers suspected to have been used for internet fraud.
This latest operation follows a similar crackdown just last week, during which 47 other suspects were arrested within the same jurisdiction. Investigations are ongoing, and the EFCC says the suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of the probe.
The EFCC has ramped up efforts in the zone in recent months. Between March and October 2024, the Ilorin office recorded the arrest of over 100 suspects across Kwara, Kogi, and Ekiti states. This includes a notable March 2024 operation in Lokoja where 48 suspects and a herbalist were detained for offenses related to conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretenses.
In a separate case on October 30, 2024, 55 suspected fraudsters were arrested during a raid on a hideout in the Offa metropolis, Offa LGA.
EFCC officials have reiterated their commitment to clamping down on cybercrime networks and warned the public against participating in or facilitating fraudulent schemes, as such actions continue to threaten the nation’s security and economic stability.
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