.As Police arraign 113 foreign nationals for Cybercrime
The Nigeria Police Force on Monday expressed serious concern regarding a recent 34-page report released by Amnesty International, which alleged police culpability in the deaths and arrests of protesters, and the use of excessive force during the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024. The Force categorically refuted the allegations as unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with incident reports submitted to the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun by affected Commands.
This was contained in a statement issued by
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP,
Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters,
Abuja
It read in part, “The Force wishes to reiterate that throughout the protests, it operated in compliance with established rules of engagement, including providing security for peaceful protesters.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, had issued clear directives to all Commissioners of Police on managing the protests, emphasizing that officers should not deploy arms to manage protests. Instead, arms were only to be used when protests escalated into riots involving loss of lives and damage to property. Even then, engagement with armed protesters was limited strictly to specialized armed units to restore order.
“The Nigeria Police Force recorded several unpalatable incidents during the protests, which were accurately documented and publicly shared.
“For example, in Borno State, four individuals tragically lost their lives, and 34 others sustained severe injuries following an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP operatives who infiltrated the protest and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
“Similarly, in another isolated incident, an unregistered vehicle rammed into protesters, resulting in 2 fatalities. These events, which accounted for the total of 7 recorded deaths during the protests, were not caused by police actions.
“Furthermore, in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Niger States, some protesters displayed foreign flags, destroyed public and private property, and attacked police personnel deployed to ensure their safety.
“The Police Force had to employ strategic measures, including the lawful use of tear gas, to prevent further escalation and ensure public safety. The use of tear gas is a globally accepted practice for dispersing unruly crowds and was applied judiciously without recourse to live ammunition.
“It is important to state that the police did not fire live ammunition nor cause the death of any protester. Officers demonstrated professionalism, restraint, and adherence to constitutional and international standards, even when subjected to attacks and injuries. “Arrests made during the protests targeted individuals engaging in criminal acts such as treason, vandalism, robbery, arson, and looting. These arrests were conducted lawfully, and those detained were treated within the ambit of the law.
“In a gesture of magnanimity, the Federal Government has since granted pardon to the individuals arrested during the protests despite the severity of their offenses, evidencing its commitment to reconciliation and national unity.
“In response to Amnesty International’s allegations, the IGP has directed a comprehensive investigation into the claims. Commissioners of Police in the affected states have been mandated to submit further detailed reports on the incidents within one week.
“This directive aims to identify any deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and rules of engagement, irrespective of the security agencies involved.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to safeguarding the fundamental rights of all citizens, promoting the rule of law, and improving its operational standards based on constructive and objective feedback”.
As Police arraign 113 foreign nationals for
Meanwhile, the IGP, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has reaffirmed the capabilities and expertise of the Nigeria Police Force in tackling cybercrimes and protecting cyberspace in Nigeria and beyond.
The IGP made this known while commending the Police operatives attached to Zone 7 command and the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) Abuja for bursting a group of foreign Nationals involved in a series of cybercrimes including internet fraud and marketing scams
The suspects were arrested on the 3rd of November 2024 in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). During investigation, operatives of the NPF-NCCC recovered a vast array of digital critical evidence, believed to be instrumental in the syndicate’s cybercrime operations.
According to ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi,
Force Public Relations Officer, the recovered items include 1 Black Toyota Tundra vehicle, laptops of different makes, smartphones of various brands, tablets, desktops, computers and keyboards, Harman/Kardon sound system, MTN routers, Huawei routers, Airtel routers, D-Link routers, Starlink routers, Gamepads, 1 Sony PlayStation 5, a central processing unit, Multiple SIM cards from both local international service Providers, High-capacity servers, Drones and specialized cyber equipment, international passports, identity cards, and travel documents.
“These assets recovered are suspected to have been used in executing a range of cybercrime activities, including unauthorized data breaches, marketing scams and other cybercrime activities.
“The scale and sophistication of the operation underscores the increasing global threat posed by cybercriminal syndicates operating across borders.
“As a follow-up to the investigation and recoveries, compiled with credible evidence against the suspects, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), has arraigned the 113 foreign nationals facing serious charges, including computer-related fraud, unlawful access to data, marketing scams, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal immigration, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
“The arraignment of these suspects follows extensive investigations that have uncovered the alleged involvement of these individuals in criminal activities spanning both cybercrime, immigration offences and human trafficking networks.
“The Nigeria Police Force will continue to work closely with international law enforcement agencies and Embassies to track and prosecute cybercriminals, combat cybercrime and other forms of transnational criminal activity and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under Nigerian law.
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while reaffirming the commitment of the Force to leverage the emerging technological advancement to protect the citizens of Nigeria both physically and in the digital space, further reiterates that the Force is well-dedicated and well-equipped to combat cases of cybercrime in the country”.
