President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive calling for a nationwide crackdown on cybercriminals and transnational car theft syndicates operating in Nigeria. The President’s mandate came following the recent handover of 53 stolen vehicles and $180,300 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), marking a significant step in combating organized crime linked to Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Tinubu urged security and law enforcement agencies—including the EFCC, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)—to intensify their efforts in tracking and prosecuting those involved in the illegal trade of stolen vehicles. The President emphasized that cutting off the financial proceeds of these criminal activities is one of the most effective strategies to disrupt and dismantle such operations.
The President’s order follows the EFCC’s recent recovery of assets belonging to two Canadian victims of cybercrime, which included $180,300 and 53 vehicles that had been illegally shipped from Canada to Nigeria. According to the EFCC, the vehicles were stolen in Canada and distributed across various locations in Nigeria. A Federal High Court in Ikoyi had earlier this year ordered the final forfeiture of 20 vehicles stolen from Canada to the Nigerian government.
At the handover ceremony, attended by representatives from the RCMP, including Robert Aboumitri, First Secretary, Deputy High Commission of Canada, and Nasser Salihou, Liaison Officer and Programme Manager, Tinubu praised the EFCC for its effective collaboration with international partners. He lauded the agency’s dedication to recovering stolen assets and ensuring their return to rightful owners, underscoring the importance of such cooperation in combating transnational crime.
President Tinubu expressed concern over Nigeria being used as a hub for the export of stolen vehicles and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to preventing the country from becoming a destination for illicit wealth and stolen goods. He directed all relevant agencies, particularly anti-corruption bodies, to ensure the preservation of confiscated assets in line with national laws and international agreements, further emphasizing the need to protect Nigeria’s financial integrity.
The handover of these stolen vehicles marks a significant victory in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against organized crime, with the President vowing that such criminal activity will not go unchecked under his administration.
