Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Cybercrime

  • NAPTIP Rescues 23 Nigerians from Cybercrime Ring in Southeast Asia

    NAPTIP Rescues 23 Nigerians from Cybercrime Ring in Southeast Asia

    According to Vanguard reporting on the latest human trafficking trends, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has successfully repatriated 23 Nigerian youths who were trapped in a cyber-enabled criminal syndicate in Thailand. The victims were lured abroad with promises of high-paying jobs in the tech industry, only to be forced into conducting online fraud and cryptocurrency scams under duress.

    The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, revealed that the rescue was part of a coordinated international effort to dismantle “cyber-scam compounds” operating across Southeast Asia. These operations often involve confiscating the passports of young Nigerians and subjecting them to physical abuse if they fail to meet “scam targets.” The agency warned that traffickers are increasingly using social media to recruit tech-savvy youths for these illegal operations.

    Upon their return to Nigeria, the 23 individuals are being provided with psychological support and rehabilitation services. NAPTIP has also initiated investigations into the local agents who facilitated their travel. The agency is urging parents to be wary of “unbelievable” job offers in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar, which have become hubs for these modern-day slave camps.

    Validating this, Daily Post notes that “NAPTIP has identified a new trafficking route through North Africa to the East.” The Guardian also reported on the rescue, quoting a NAPTIP spokesperson who warned, “The digital age has made recruitment easier for traffickers, and we must increase our cyber-vigilance.”

    Echotitbits take: This “cyber-trafficking” is a growing global menace. Nigeria’s youth, driven by economic hardship and high digital literacy, are prime targets. Beyond rescue missions, there is an urgent need for a massive public awareness campaign targeting the “Japa” syndrome that blinds many to the risks of undocumented travel.

    Source: Vanguard – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/02/naptip-rescues-23-nigerians-trapped-in-southeast-asia-cybercrime-ring/, February 12, 2026

    Photo credit: Vanguard

  • Eleven Nigerians Apprehended in Thailand Over Multi-Million Baht Romance Scam

    Eleven Nigerians Apprehended in Thailand Over Multi-Million Baht Romance Scam

    Eleven Nigerians Apprehended in Thailand Over Multi-Million Baht Romance Scam

    In an update published by Vanguard, Thai police arrested 11 Nigerian nationals following a coordinated raid on a suspected international romance-scam syndicate. The group was reportedly operating out of the Muang Thong Thani area and is alleged to have defrauded local citizens of millions of baht. Investigators said a complaint from a Thai woman—who reportedly lost more than two million baht to a suspect posing as a foreign engineer—helped trigger the operation.

    Authorities allege the syndicate used fake social media profiles to build trust with victims before soliciting funds for fictitious construction projects or emergencies. During the arrests, Thai immigration officials seized laptops, mobile phones, and bank books allegedly used in the operation. The suspects are being held pending formal charges and potential extradition-related processes.

    Channels TV verified the arrests, quoting a Thai police official who described the group as highly organized and adept at social engineering. The Nation also covered the incident, noting it highlights ongoing cybercrime challenges involving Nigerians abroad.

    Echotitbits take: This development is a setback for Nigeria’s international image—especially as policymakers push for improved mobility and visa outcomes. It underscores the case for deeper EFCC collaboration with foreign law enforcement to disrupt syndicates at their operational roots.

    Source: Vanguard — https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/thai-police-arrest-11-nigerians-over-alleged-international-romance-scam/amp/ (2026-01-23)

    Photo Credit: Vanguard 2026-01-23

  • Ghana arrests 141 Nigerians in cybercrime sweep, reigniting cross‑border fraud debate

    Ghana arrests 141 Nigerians in cybercrime sweep, reigniting cross‑border fraud debate

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    Reporting by Punch indicates Ghanaian authorities arrested 141 Nigerians in a crackdown linked to suspected cybercrime activity.

    The arrests highlight intensifying regional pressure on online fraud networks and the diplomatic sensitivities that follow large-scale detentions of foreign nationals.

    Echotitbits take: This will test consular response and law‑enforcement cooperation. Watch for public charge sheets, verified victim counts, and whether both countries set up stronger joint cybercrime tasking rather than periodic raids.

    Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/ghana-arrests-141-nigerians-over-cybercrime/)

    The Punch 2025-12-27

  • Lagos court remands Nigerian sought by US in $1.24m fraud case

    Lagos court remands Nigerian sought by US in $1.24m fraud case

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-24 07:12:00

    Reporting by Punch indicates a Lagos court has ordered the remand of a Nigerian man sought by US authorities over alleged fraud linked to about $1.24 million, as extradition-related legal processes begin to take shape.

    The case underlines the expanding pipeline of cross-border financial crime cooperation—where US agencies pursue suspects abroad and request provisional arrest or extradition through local courts.

    At the Nigerian end, the key issues often include identity verification, due process, and whether the alleged offences meet extradition thresholds under applicable treaties and Nigerian law.

    For diaspora watchers, the story is also a reminder that digital fraud cases increasingly leave multi-jurisdiction evidence trails—emails, transfers, and platform logs that enable prosecutions across borders.

    TVC News reported the suspect was “wanted in the United States” over fraud allegations, while Leadership similarly described the remand as part of steps tied to an extradition request in the case.

    Echotitbits take: Nigeria’s credibility in global financial policing matters—especially for banking access, correspondent relationships, and diaspora remittances. Watch for how fast courts handle extradition hearings and whether agencies improve prosecution capacity so more cases are tried locally where appropriate.

    Source: The  Punch — December 24, 2025 (https://punchng.com/lagos-court-remands-nigerian-wanted-in-us-for-1-24m-fraud/)
    The Punch 2025-12-24

  • US jury convicts Nigerian man in $7.5m charity fraud case as DOJ outlines sentence exposure

    US jury convicts Nigerian man in $7.5m charity fraud case as DOJ outlines sentence exposure

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-20 14:20:00

    According to The Punch, a Nigerian national, Olusegun Adejorin, was convicted in a US federal court of defrauding two charities of more than $7.5 million, with prosecutors citing wire fraud, identity theft and unauthorised computer access.

    The report says the scheme involved compromising email accounts, impersonating staff, and manipulating withdrawal approvals to divert funds to accounts not linked to the charities.

    US authorities say Adejorin was extradited from Ghana, and sentencing is expected in 2026, with potential penalties that include lengthy prison terms for multiple counts.

    In its press release, the US Department of Justice said the defendant “faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of the five counts of wire fraud.” TheCable also reported the conviction and noted he was found guilty after a six-day trial for “wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorised access to a protected computer.”

    Echotitbits take:
    Expect NGOs and payment providers to tighten verification and anti-fraud controls, which can increase friction for legitimate transactions. Watch for sentencing, restitution orders, and whether investigators identify co-conspirators or linked networks.

    Source: The Punch — December 20, 2025 (https://punchng.com/court-convicts-nigerian-of-7-5m-charity-fraud-in-us/)
    The Punch 2025-12-20