FBI says nine arrested in Nigeria in $11m cybercrime crackdown
- The FBI says nine people were arrested in Nigeria under an operation targeting online scam networks.
- Director Kash Patel said 53 electronic devices were seized and $11 million in funds identified across countries.
- The bureau credited Nigerian law enforcement and partners in London for their cooperation.
The FBI says nine people have been arrested in Nigeria as part of an international operation against online fraud networks accused of taking money from victims abroad.
The bureau's director, Kash Patel, announced the arrests in a statement on Sunday. He said the operation, which the FBI calls "Operation Blackout", also led to the seizure of 53 electronic devices and the identification of about $11 million in funds that could be frozen in several countries.
Patel said the scam operations target ordinary people, drain their savings and cross borders in the belief that police cannot reach them. "They're wrong," he said in the statement.
He thanked Nigerian law enforcement agencies and partners in London for what he described as strong cooperation during the operation.
The announcement came days after the FBI said 28 people had been arrested across Africa in a wider push against online scams, with more than 350 devices seized.
Why it matters in Nigeria
Cybercrime is not only a problem for foreign victims. It affects Nigeria's image abroad and the way Nigerians are treated when they travel, open bank accounts or do business online.
The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, released this year, said complaints came from more than 200 countries and were tied to nearly $1.6 billion in losses. Nigeria was listed with about 1,219 complainants in the period covered.
At home, the collapse of the digital asset platform CBEX left investors unable to withdraw their money, with losses put at more than ₦2.4 billion. That case renewed calls for stronger regulation of online investment schemes.
The FBI has not named the nine people arrested in Nigeria, and no charges have been announced here. Under Nigerian law, a person is presumed innocent until a court says otherwise.
What happens next
The FBI has not said whether the suspects will face charges in Nigeria or be handed over to the United States. Nigerian authorities have also not commented publicly on the arrests.
For everyday Nigerians, the case is a reminder to be careful with online investment offers and to check whether a platform is registered before putting money in.
