…Toy gun, fake dollars, laptops recovered in sweeping bust
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, have dismantled a suspected cybercrime syndicate, arresting three individuals linked to a web of criminal conspiracy, fraud, forgery and impersonation.
The breakthrough, police sources disclosed, followed weeks of intelligence-driven surveillance targeting a network believed to be behind coordinated online scams within Lagos and beyond.
The operation, spearheaded by the Zonal Intelligence Department, gained traction on January 7, 2026, when detectives acted on credible intelligence pointing to activities in the Lekki–Ajah corridor.
In a swift and precise move, one of the suspects, Tega Emmanuel, 24, was intercepted along Chevron Drive while behind the wheel of a luxury Porsche, a development that immediately raised suspicion among operatives.
Preliminary questioning reportedly opened a floodgate of revelations, with Emmanuel admitting involvement in cyber fraud schemes, including romance scams and the creation of fraudulent online identities.
A subsequent search of his residence, executed under a valid warrant, led to the arrest of two alleged accomplices, Jacob Olatunde, 33, and Gift Okubakpere, 36, believed to be key actors in the syndicate.
Investigators disclosed that Olatunde allegedly managed financial flows and coordinated the movement of illicit proceeds, while Okubakpere was said to have handled cryptocurrency transactions and online scam operations across multiple digital platforms.
A cache of incriminating items was recovered during the operation, including laptops, mobile devices, suspected counterfeit United States dollar notes, multiple international passports and vehicle number plates.
Also found were a toy pistol, which the suspects claimed was used for content production, as well as substances suspected to be illicit drugs and materials linked to their consumption.
Police authorities confirmed that further forensic analysis is underway in collaboration with relevant agencies to ascertain the authenticity of the seized currency and the nature of the suspected drugs, even as efforts intensify to track down other members of the network.