Abuja Residents Claim 113 Foreign Hackers Had Police Escorts Before Their Arrest

Abuja Residents Claim 113 Foreign Hackers Had Police Escorts Before Their Arrest
On November 4, 2024, the Nigeria Police Force announced the arrest of 130 individuals involved in high-level cybercrime activities, including 113 foreign nationals—87 men and 26 women—from China and Malaysia, alongside 17 Nigerian collaborators. SOLOMON ODENIYI visited the residence of the suspects, uncovering that they had been living under police protection.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The road leading to the house where the foreign nationals and their Nigerian counterparts were arrested was a dusty, desolate path, untarred and strangely quiet. The day before, this reporter had set out with determination to locate the house, but residents and passersby offered no assistance, leaving him with only blank stares and vague directions.

In a bid to narrow down the location, a commercial motorcyclist, promising knowledge of the area for a steep fee, led the reporter to a different house altogether—one occupied by a foreigner, but not linked to the cybercrime investigation. Despite the wrong turn, the motorcyclist accepted the fare with a grin.

Complicating matters further, the police had issued a vague press release, stating the residence was somewhere near the Next Cash and Carry area. Undeterred, the Sunday PUNCH team set out again the following morning, hiring a more reliable motorcyclist and combing through the streets of Jahi I and II.

After what felt like an endless journey through the winding roads, a structure emerged—its three-storey walls painted with bold red markings that read, “Keep off. NPF-NCCC under investigation.” The house, now identified, stood amid a cluster of uncompleted buildings and modest kiosks, its imposing presence marking the end of the search.

Foreign Nationals Protected by Police

Residents, traders, and laborers in the area revealed that the foreign nationals had only recently moved in. They were shocked when the police arrived to arrest the suspects, noting that the house had been consistently guarded by officers.

A local resident, who identified himself as Sanusi, mentioned that although the building was completed some time ago, it remained vacant until the foreigners arrived in August 2024. He initially assumed the individuals were expatriates due to the constant police presence at the house. He explained that he thought the foreigners might have been involved in a construction project, given the ongoing road works in the Katampe extension area, not far from the house.

“What surprised me was that there were police officers guarding the house. I saw at least two officers. I thought they were expatriates or high-level construction workers. It’s possible that those policemen knew something was wrong, but I’ve been trying to figure out why they were providing security to people involved in this,” Sanusi said.

He also pointed out that the foreigners did not appear to lead extravagant lives. They were quiet, modest, and seemed to keep to themselves, which made it hard for anyone in the area to suspect them of any illegal activity. He added that they drove simple, unremarkable cars, and their behavior did not give any cause for concern.

“They were calm and didn’t attract attention. They didn’t interact much with people, maybe because of the type of area we live in. But nothing about them made us suspect they were involved in cybercrime. The police presence didn’t raise any alarms either,” Sanusi continued.

A security guard working at a nearby house, as well as a female hawker, both confirmed that the foreigners had only recently arrived in the area and were guarded by police officers. According to the guard, police vehicles were frequently seen parked outside the residence, and officers could be observed securing the premises around the clock.

“The foreigners who were arrested are new to this area. We don’t know anything about them, but we saw the police here last week. One of their vehicles was parked in front of our house. Then they started putting them into a big vehicle. Since I’ve been here, I’ve never been inside the house, even though it’s right across from mine. There’s security there 24/7. I see both police and private security, but they never talk to us,” the guard, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

Adding to this, the hawker said, in Pidgin English: “You see this house—police dey, normal security dey. They have their workers, and they don’t buy anything from anyone around here.”

The arrest of these foreign nationals and their Nigerian collaborators raises many questions, particularly about the level of involvement and protection they received during their operations. While the police were quick to apprehend the suspects, the residents’ accounts reveal an unsettling reality of how cybercriminals operated under the apparent protection of law enforcement.

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