The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has lauded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its landmark December 10, 2024, operation in Victoria Island, Lagos, which led to the arrest of 792 suspects, predominantly foreign nationals, allegedly behind a transnational cryptocurrency and romance scam syndicate.
The arrested individuals include 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two from Kharzartan, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian. The group is accused of recruiting young Nigerians to serve as local operatives, masking the operations of the foreign masterminds.
CISLAC Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, praised the EFCC for its professionalism and for debunking the harmful stereotype that primarily blames Nigerians for cybercrime. He emphasized that foreign actors often exploit vulnerable Nigerian youth with false promises, placing them at legal risk.
The organization urged the EFCC to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation ensuring all culprits are held accountable, regardless of nationality. It also called on the Nigerian government to invest more in youth development, digital education, and cyber-literacy to prevent exploitation.
CISLAC highlighted the need for inter-agency collaboration especially among the EFCC, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigeria Customs Service to close security gaps that allow foreign criminals to operate unchecked.
The group further encouraged international cooperation, involvement of civil society, and public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting youth and media platforms, to shift public attitudes and reduce the appeal of cybercrime.
CISLAC concluded by reaffirming its support for institutions working to restore Nigeria’s global reputation and called for a comprehensive national strategy to tackle the root causes of cybercrime, promote legal economic opportunities, and ensure systemic accountability.