The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos State has arrested four National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and eight students from Gateway Polytechnic in Sapaade, Ogun State, for alleged involvement in internet fraud.
Two additional individuals were also apprehended by PSFU operatives on January 15, 2025, in the Sapaade area of Ogun State.
Eyitayo Johnson, the PSFU spokesperson, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday, January 20.
“On January 16, 2025, the Commissioner of Police for PSFU, Godwin Omodeinde, met with leaders from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Association of Polytechnic Students, the Association of Southern Nigerian Students, and the GAPOSA Students Union Government,” the statement said.
The meeting was arranged following the arrest of 14 individuals, aged between 18 and 28 years, on January 15, 2025, in Sapaade, Ogun State. The suspects are believed to be members of an internet fraud syndicate operating across Lagos and Ogun States. They include eight students from Gateway Polytechnic, four NYSC corps members, and two others, one claiming to be an artist and the other a cobbler.
In response to concerns raised by student union leaders, Commissioner Omodeinde emphasized the importance of fostering a strong, cooperative relationship between NANS members and the Nigeria Police. He urged the student leaders to ensure the welfare of their members while also holding accountable those involved in misconduct.
The Commissioner also called on student union executives to educate their members on the detrimental impact of cybercrime, particularly its role in tarnishing Nigeria’s global image and hindering efforts to remove the country from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
Omodeinde highlighted the consequences of Nigeria’s grey list status, including reduced foreign investment, higher transaction costs, difficulties in international trade, increased regulatory scrutiny, lost government revenue, weakened financial markets, reduced cross-border transactions, and the loss of correspondent banking relationships.
The student union leadership expressed their appreciation for Commissioner Omodeinde’s leadership, diplomacy, and fairness, noting that the engagement would strengthen the relationship between the police and the student community.
