The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has clarified that the group of 101 Nigerians arrested in Abuja for cybercrime-related offenses were not forced into their illegal activities. The suspects, including four Chinese nationals, were apprehended in an apartment in the Gudu area of Abuja. They are believed to have been involved in a hotel review job scam that targeted victims and hotels globally.
According to the EFCC’s Head of Cybercrime, Deen Whyte, the Nigerian suspects willingly applied for the jobs and were subsequently employed. He emphasized that there is no evidence of coercion in the ongoing investigation, stating that the individuals could have chosen to leave once they discovered the true nature of their work.
The syndicate’s operation involved the Chinese nationals enticing Nigerians with job offers and then instructing them to engage with victims worldwide. The fraud primarily targeted victims in Europe, with a focus on the United Kingdom. The EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, advised Nigerians to be cautious when considering job opportunities, especially those that seem suspicious.