The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested nine suspects in Nigeria as part of an operation targeting international cybercriminal networks accused of stealing billions of dollars from Americans.
In a statement published on X on Sunday, FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation, codenamed “Operation Blackout”, resulted in the seizure of 53 electronic devices.
Patel added that the operation led to the identification of $11 million in potentially freezable funds across multiple countries.
According to the FBI director, the targeted cybercrime networks exploit victims, steal their life savings and operate across international borders in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
“Operation Blackout is taking the fight directly to the international cybercriminal networks stealing billions from Americans,” Patel said.
“These scam centres exploit innocent victims, steal life savings, and operate across international borders believing they are beyond the reach of law enforcement. They’re wrong.”
Patel commended Nigerian law enforcement agencies and their partners in London for their cooperation, while vowing to prosecute criminals targeting Americans from abroad.
The arrests come amid a series of investigations and enforcement actions involving Nigerians accused of participating in cybercrime schemes targeting victims in the United States.
In September, South African authorities handed over six Nigerians to FBI officials over allegations that they defrauded more than 100 women through romance scams.
In August, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission extradited two Nigerians to the United States over allegations of online sexual exploitation and sextortion involving two teenage boys who later died by suicide.
Also, in August 2025, the FBI arrested 22 Nigerians allegedly linked to financially motivated sextortion schemes associated with a rise in suicides among American teenagers.
Boluwatife Enome
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