The Nigeria Police Force has broken up an international online investment fraud operation based in Agbor, Delta State, in a coordinated crackdown involving British authorities and a major social media company.

The police said the operation was carried out by the Police National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCC) in partnership with the National Crime Agency, with intelligence support from Meta.

Seven suspects were arrested during the raid, which authorities say targeted a sophisticated network accused of defrauding victims across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries of millions of dollars through online investment schemes.

Announcing the arrests, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said investigations revealed a coordinated syndicate that relied heavily on social media deception.

Authorities said the group also operated a fake Facebook community named “Retirement Strategies: Real Estate and Market Insights,” where fabricated success stories and testimonials were used to lure victims into transferring funds. Items recovered during the operation included 26 mobile phones, 42 SIM cards and a laptop believed to have been used to coordinate the scams.

The Director of the NPF–NCC, Ifeanyi Henry Uche, said investigations are continuing and that more arrests could follow as digital evidence is analysed.

The police advised the public to remain cautious about online investment offers and to verify platforms thoroughly before committing money. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised the cybercrime centre for the operation, reaffirming the force’s commitment to tackling online financial crimes and protecting citizens.

Reacting to the takedown, Meta said collaboration with law enforcement was essential in curbing online scams.

“Scams are increasing across the internet, driven by organised crime syndicates that constantly evolve to evade detection. This takedown demonstrates the impact of cooperation and the importance of a whole-of-society approach,” said Sylvia Musalagani, Meta’s Head of Safety Policy for Africa, the Middle East and Türkiye. She said the company would continue working with security agencies to identify emerging threats and disrupt criminal networks.

Also speaking, a representative of the UK National Crime Agency, Matt Mountain, commended the Nigerian authorities and pledged continued collaboration in combating cyber-enabled fraud.