EFCC Arrests 21 Cyber Fraud Suspects in Lagos Estate Raid

Nigerian authorities arrested 21 suspected cybercrime fraudsters in a raid on a Lagos estate and a 22-year-old drug dealer who used a 14-year-old boy as a courier in Bauchi, while a Mozambican blogger livestreaming a protest against chromium mining pollution was shot dead by security forces.

Lagos Cybercrime Raid Yields 21 Arrests

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission carried out a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State. [1] Operatives of the Lagos Directorate 1 conducted the raid at about 5 am on Monday, October 26, 2026. [1] The operation targeted suspects allegedly defrauding victims through gift cards, cryptocurrencies and international money transfers by impersonating other individuals. [1] The raid resulted in the arrest of 21 suspected cybercrime fraudsters and the recovery of five exotic cars. [1] The commission attributed the outcome to surveillance and reconnaissance conducted before the raid. [1] Preliminary investigations indicted 19 of the 21 suspects, while the remaining two were released. [1] All indicted suspects will be arraigned in court immediately. [1]

EFCC Rejects Harassment Claims

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission denied allegations of harassment, intimidation and unlawful arrests during the raid. [1] The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated that the operation was carried out professionally with no record of harassment, intimidation or unlawful arrest of anyone. [1] A young woman who attempted to alert the suspects by making telephone calls was held and her phone confiscated until the conclusion of the operation, after which the device was returned to her. [1] The commission urged members of the public to support its efforts against economic and financial crimes and warned that it would not allow blackmail and alarmism to undermine its mandate. [1]

Bauchi Police Arrest Drug Dealer Using Child Courier

The Bauchi State Police Command arrested 22-year-old Samuel Ogochukwu for allegedly recruiting a 14-year-old boy to deliver suspected illicit drugs. [2] The minor, identified as Samuel Kosi, was intercepted by operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit while on routine patrol. [2] The boy was stopped at about 11am while allegedly on his way to deliver a pinch of a granular whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine to a customer. [2] During interrogation the teenager confessed that Ogochukwu had sent him to make the delivery. [2] Detectives traced and arrested the suspect at his location. [2] A search of his shop and residence recovered 3.5 grammes of suspected methamphetamine, 17 sachets of 100mg tramadol capsules, five sachets of 300mg pregabalin capsules, seven sachets of diazepam, 12 Exol tablets, two wraps of a substance known as “Yellow Boys” and one sachet of “Shine Shine Leather”. [2] The principal suspect disclosed that he received his illicit supplies through waybills from Onitsha, Anambra State. [2]

Juvenile Handling and Police Commendation

The minor in the Bauchi case is being handled in line with juvenile best practices and will be reunited with his family after counselling. [2] The suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation. [2] The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the Violent Crimes Response Unit for its consistency and operational effectiveness. [2] He noted that the latest arrest was the fourth major drug bust recorded by the unit in 10 days. [2] The command said it would sustain its crackdown on drug trafficking and other forms of criminality in the state. [2]

Mozambican Blogger Killed While Livestreaming Protest

Mozambican blogger Albino Sibia, better known as Mano Shottas and aged 30, was shot dead on 12 December 2024 while livestreaming a protest in Ressano Garcia. [3] The demonstration opposed trucks loaded with chromite ore driving through the town and polluting the Komati River. [3] Footage from his final livestream showed a tense standoff between protesters and law enforcement, with officers positioned on the road and clouds of tear gas approaching a house with children inside. [3] Gunfire rang out around him. [3] Less than a minute after being wounded, Sibia turned the camera toward himself and said, “I’ve been shot. I’ve been shot, and they keep shooting.” [3] His face was pressed against the asphalt as he broadcast his last words. [3] Forbidden Stories recovered a two-minute, 24-second clip from the video filmed on the day of his death. [3] By analysing open-source information and videos filmed at the protest site, Forbidden Stories demonstrated the involvement of law enforcement in his death. [3] Over the previous 18 months Sibia had kept residents informed via Facebook livestreams covering protests, local news and water pollution. [3] This work led to his arrest in January 2024. [3]

Context of Mining Pollution and Impunity

Every day more than 1,000 trucks carrying chromium and other minerals from neighbouring South Africa clog the roads of Ressano Garcia on their way to the Port of Maputo. [3] The shipments of chromite ore allegedly pollute the Komati River, which flows through the border. [3] Black and gray patches formed by deposits of coal and chromium ore multiply along the road, with the chromium recognisable by its sparkle. [3] The wind sweeps up the ore and scatters it near the adjacent Komati River. [3] South African authorities have been unable to resolve the problem despite alerts. [3] A letter sent in February 2024 to the environmental ministry and the Department of Mineral Resources in Pretoria demanded an urgent investigation into and enforcement of environmental legislation regarding the illegal dumping of minerals in the Komatipoort area. [3] Residents who attempted to alert authorities provided water and soil analyses along with photos of dead fish, dead plants and dead animals but received only anonymous threats in return. [3]

What to watch next: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said all indicted suspects from the Lagos raid will be arraigned in court immediately, while the Bauchi State Police Command stated it would sustain its crackdown on drug trafficking following the fourth major drug bust by the Violent Crimes Response Unit in 10 days.