Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, March 21, 2025, arrested 13 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

They were arrested in an intelligence-driven sting operation, with seven of the suspects arrested at Campgee hotel, five arrested along Mission Road, off Ring Road 3 and the other one in another location, all within Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Items recovered from them include two exotic cars, five laptops and 14 smartphones.

When contacted on Monday night, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

Oyewale added that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Six operatives of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards were reportedly killed in an ambush laid by bandits in Anka local government area on Saturday.

The operatives were said to be returning from a successful joint operation led by the Nigerian Army which resulted to the death of several bandits.

The bandits had ambushed them in a forest.

Spokesman of the Zamfara Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, who confirmed the attack, said bodies of the guards were recovered and being prepared for burial this morning.

Abubakar however, declined further comment on the incident.

“The police did not participate in the operation. You can only get details about the incident from the army who led the operation.”

“But I was briefed about the death and our Area Commander and the Divisional Officer in charge of Anka are currently in the area, participating in the burial of the deceased which is taking place this morning,” he said

When contacted the, Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad, said, “I cannot speak right now because I am on my way to the burial ground.”

Daily Trust reports that 12 Zamfara Community Guards and vigilantes were killed during a gun dual with the bandits in Bukkuyum local government area of the state on March 5, 2025.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigations of a suspect, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, who was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with $578, 000 USD.

The investigations commenced on Friday, March 21, when the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the airport on Friday, March 21, 2025, handed over Sunday and the monetary exhibit to the EFCC for allegation of false currency declaration.

The suspect was arrested by the Customs upon his arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, March 19.

On arrival, he had approached the Currency Declaration Desk and declared the sum of $279,000 USD.

However, an additional sum of $299, 000 USD, was found to be secretly concealed in different packages, thereby totaling $578, 000 USD.

During interrogation, the suspect was found to have also concealed the sum of €100 Euros, as well as a counterfeit $250 USS

Speaking during the handing over, Harrison said: “This is in contravention of the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, which stipulates that any currency or other forms of negotiable instruments , where the value exceeds $10,000 threshold or its equivalent must be properly declared for inbound and outbound passengers.”

Harrison, who spoke on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, added that; “the Command will be handing over a total sum of $578, 000 USD to the EFCC for false currency declaration.”

While receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its cooperation with the EFCC.

He stated that inter-agency collaboration was very crucial to achieving a common goal, adding that “We are here today to take over one passenger coming from South Africa for falsely declaring the cash he was carrying along. I want members of the public to be weary of this kind of act.

“It is incumbent on each and every person going out or coming into the country to declare any cash in excess of $10,000. It is mandatory by virtue of the provisions of our laws, especially the money laundering law.”

He also appealed to the members of the public to desist from the act of false declaration or non-declaration, adding that the long arm of the laws would always catch up with anyone involved in the criminal act.

“We will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy or the nation’s financial system. This is because this kind of act exposes the country to a lot of risks, in terms of money laundering; it also makes the country to be seen as a haven of fraud.

“We will continue to synergise to make sure we have a better country, a stronger economy and a more functional financial system,” he said.