FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested 27 persons allegedly involved in cybercrime and seized nine exotic cars in a sting operation carried out in Benin City.
Benin Zonal Director of EFCC, Mr Effa Okim, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen, said the arrests were made mainly in hotels and residential quarters.
According to him, the sting operation which was on Wednesday, June 26 was the first since he assumed office as the zonal director on April 15.
Okim disclosed that in line with his avowed commitment to quick dispensation of justice, the suspects that were not found culpable would be released today after profiling, while those found culpable would be charged to court soon.
According to him, “for the first time, monies were recovered during operation by men of the EFCC and they have been returned to the owners.”
He expressed the commission’s readiness to ensure that cybercrime is reduced to its barest minimum in the zone, made up of Edo, Delta and Ondo States.
The zonal director disclosed that all those arrested would be made to declare their assets as a tool to monitor their activities.
Okim stated that the commission has been engaged in preventive measures, with visits to tertiary institutions and other locations with vulnerable people as part of measures to check cybercrime.
