By Sunday Apah
The Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa has praised the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), under the leadership of Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), led by Mr. Ola Olukoyede, for successfully dismantling two significant cybercrime operations in Abuja and Lagos.
In a statement released by its President, Olorogun Ese Kakor, on Monday, the NBM lauded the EFCC’s apprehension of 792 suspects in Lagos as a noteworthy achievement in the ongoing battle against fraud, cybercrime, and money laundering on a global scale.
The organization specifically recognized the arrest of approximately 400 foreign nationals—primarily from China, the Arab world, the Philippines, and other regions—during these operations. NBM emphasized that this reinforces their stance regarding the involvement of some foreign actors in tarnishing Nigeria’s reputation.
The NBM of Africa commended the Nigerian security forces for demonstrating exemplary capabilities in intelligence gathering, information analysis, and international collaboration.
However, they urged INTERPOL to validate its reports regarding the arrests of over 300 Nigerians by providing the names, photos, and locations of the individuals for further investigation and prosecution by the EFCC and NPF.
The organization reiterated that widely circulated videos claiming to show the arrests of over 300 individuals do not accurately represent Nigerians, as the footage features women who appear to be of Filipino descent.
The NBM noted that Nigerian security agencies maintain comprehensive records of all citizens and should be able to confirm the identities of those listed by INTERPOL.
They stated that cooperation between INTERPOL and Nigerian law enforcement would significantly enhance the effectiveness of efforts to combat cybercrime and other social issues.
While expressing concern over the potential damage caused by the release of these misleading videos, NBM called for a thorough investigation to counteract any attempts to undermine Nigeria’s image on the international stage.
In their statement, NBM expressed gratitude to the members of the NPF and the EFCC for their recent successes against cybercrime centers in Abuja and Lagos.
“The arrests made underscore the exceptional intelligence-gathering capabilities of our security agencies,” the statement read.
The organization emphasized the importance of taking cybercrime more seriously, urging authorities not to link innocent groups to criminal activities in efforts to disparage Nigeria—a country dedicated to combating cybercrime.
Highlighting troubling instances of foreigners engaging in cybercrime while posing as Nigerians, NBM referenced a case involving a 67-year-old American named Michael Neu, who allegedly masqueraded as a Nigerian prince to defraud numerous victims.
The organization called upon the Nigerian government to pursue the extradition of such individuals for prosecution, emphasizing the negative impact of their actions on the nation’s reputation.
Furthermore, NBM urged INTERPOL to follow through with prosecuting all individuals implicated in its reports, particularly those identified as members of Black Axe, to deter others, especially Nigerian youth, from engaging in criminal activities.
They reiterated that the Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa is not associated with Black Axe and should not be conflated with it, asserting that such associations are both racially insensitive and defamatory.
“Our organization comprises individuals from various walks of life, including senior citizens. It is disheartening to see efforts to malign our name due to the word ‘Black’ in our title,” they stated.
“We refuse to alter our name to appease anyone. The term ‘Black’ in Neo Black Movement is a reflection of our identity that we proudly uphold.”
Finally, NBM urged local and international security agencies to focus on apprehending those who have committed crimes, distancing themselves from any wrongful connections made to Black Axe.
“NBM of Africa stands ready to assist in addressing the challenges of cybercrime by providing information and support as needed,” they concluded.
