The Nigeria Police Force has recorded breakthroughs in a series of cybercrime investigations, dismantling a cross-border fraud syndicate and arresting multiple suspects linked to financial crimes, fraud, and data breaches.
The operations, carried out by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) under the leadership of Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, highlight the Force’s intensified efforts to combat cybercrime and safeguard Nigeria’s digital and financial systems.
In one of the cases, operatives dismantled a sophisticated international fraud network following intelligence from a Nairobi-based organisation. Investigations revealed that a suspect, identified as Agbor Martins Black-Diamond, allegedly posed as a World Bank official and defrauded two Kenyan victims of $250,000 over three years under the pretext of securing donor funding.
Police said the suspect organised fake symposiums in Nigeria and South Africa and later convinced the victims to obtain a loan using family property to access a non-existent $850,000 empowerment fund in Ghana. Financial analysis confirmed multiple transfers from the victims, including $57,975 between February and July 2023.
The suspect was arrested on March 31, 2026, while investigations uncovered that his foundation was not registered in Nigeria. He was also found to have targeted local farmers in the Kuje Area Council, collecting N50,000 from each victim under false empowerment claims.
In a separate operation on April 3, 2026, the NPF-NCCC arrested a former employee, Chinedu Mbachu, over alleged cyber-related offences, including unauthorised system modification, cybersquatting, and diversion of company funds. The suspect reportedly diverted customer payments into personal accounts. Items recovered from him include a mobile phone and identification documents.
Similarly, two suspects, Ayodele Daramola and Dada Babatunde Oluwatobi, were arrested over allegations of conspiracy, data privacy breaches, and financial fraud involving a private company. Police investigations showed that between May and December 2025, the suspects allegedly diverted N85 million by exploiting internal systems and routing funds through personal accounts.
Authorities disclosed that a significant portion of the stolen funds was spent on online gambling platforms. During the operation, police recovered N4 million in cash, a Lexus ES350 vehicle, a laptop, and a high-end smartphone.
The police said investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to recover the remaining funds and prosecute all those involved.
Reaffirming the Force’s commitment, the Inspector-General of Police stated that Nigeria would not serve as a haven for cybercriminals, warning that individuals exploiting technology and cross-border networks for fraud would be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.
