Why We Raided, Arrested 21 Suspects At Applewood Estate – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained that its raid on Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State, was aimed at arresting suspected cybercrime operators accused of defrauding unsuspecting victims through gift cards, cryptocurrency transactions and international money transfers.

The commission said the operation followed surveillance and reconnaissance on the activities of the suspected fraudsters, who allegedly impersonated various individuals to obtain money from their victims.

The operation, conducted by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Directorate 1 at about 5am on Monday, October 26, resulted in the arrest of 21 suspects and the recovery of five exotic cars.

In a statement on Tuesday, the EFCC’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale said preliminary investigations had implicated 19 of the arrested suspects, while two others had been released.

He added that the 19 suspects who were indicted would be arraigned in court immediately.

The commission’s explanation comes amid questions surrounding the operation at the high-profile residential estate, with the agency insisting that the raid was based on intelligence gathering and was conducted professionally.

According to the EFCC, its operatives carried out pre-arrest surveillance to establish the activities of the suspects before moving in to apprehend them.

The agency said the suspected fraudsters allegedly used different methods, including gift cards, cryptocurrency and international money transfers, to obtain money from unsuspecting victims while impersonating other individuals.

The EFCC also addressed the circumstances surrounding the detention of a young woman during the operation.

Oyewale said the woman had attempted to alert the suspects by making telephone calls while the operation was ongoing. Her phone was temporarily confiscated until the operation was concluded but was subsequently returned to her, the commission said.

The agency maintained that the operation was conducted without harassment, intimidation or the unlawful arrest of anyone.

It also urged Nigerians to support efforts to combat economic and financial crimes, warning that cybercrime activities undermine the country’s reputation.

The commission said it remained open to constructive engagement with members of the public but would not allow what it described as blackmail and alarmism to frustrate its statutory responsibilities.