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The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled an international online investment fraud operation operating out of Agbor, Delta State, in a coordinated operation involving British authorities and a major social media company.
The crackdown was carried out by the Police National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCC) in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), with intelligence support from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
Seven suspects were arrested during the operation, which police say targeted a sophisticated cybercrime network accused of defrauding victims across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries of millions of dollars through online investment scams.
Confirming the arrests, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said investigations uncovered a well-organised syndicate that relied heavily on social media platforms to deceive victims.
According to Hundeyin, the alleged ringleaders expanded their operations by recruiting and training young individuals in online investment fraud and phishing techniques. These recruits were tasked with targeting victims in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as other international locations.
Police identified the suspects as Collins Ogwuorie, Christian Ogwuorie, Gbenoba Emmanuel, Samuel Olufemi, Collins Victor, Onyeka Emenem, and Kefas Ogunbor.
Investigators allege that the suspected mastermind, Collins Ogwuorie, acquired hundreds of social media accounts from online vendors and distributed them to members of the group. The accounts were reportedly used for impersonation, mass spamming, and direct engagement with unsuspecting victims, with suspects posing as cryptocurrency traders and investment professionals.
Authorities said the group also operated a fake Facebook community titled “Retirement Strategies: Real Estate and Market Insights,” where fabricated success stories and testimonials were shared to lure victims into transferring funds. Items recovered during the raid included 26 mobile phones, 42 SIM cards, and a laptop believed to have been used to coordinate the fraudulent activities.
The Director of the NPF–NCC, Ifeanyi Henry Uche, said investigations are ongoing and that further arrests may be made as digital evidence continues to be analysed.
Police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to carefully verify online investment opportunities before committing funds. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the cybercrime centre for the successful operation and reaffirmed the force’s commitment to combating online financial crimes and protecting citizens.
Reacting to the takedown, Meta emphasised the importance of collaboration between technology companies and law enforcement agencies in tackling online scams.
“Scams are increasing across the internet, driven by organised crime syndicates that constantly evolve to evade detection,” said Sylvia Musalagani, Meta’s Head of Safety Policy for Africa, the Middle East and Türkiye. “This takedown demonstrates the impact of cooperation and the importance of a whole-of-society approach.”
A representative of the UK National Crime Agency, Matt Mountain, also praised the Nigerian authorities and pledged continued cooperation in the fight against cyber-enabled financial fraud.
