The FBI and Nigerian law enforcement have arrested nine individuals and seized 53 electronic devices under Operation Blackout. Authorities also identified $11 million in freezable funds linked to international scam networks.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced the arrest of nine people in Nigeria and the seizure of 53 electronic devices during an international operation targeting cybercrime networks accused of defrauding victims across borders.

FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed the figures in a post on X on Sunday, October 25, describing the operation as part of efforts to dismantle criminal networks allegedly stealing billions of dollars from Americans.

The operation, code-named Operation Blackout, also led investigators and private-sector partners to identify $11 million in funds across multiple countries that could potentially be frozen.

“Our latest operation in Nigeria delivered: nine arrests, 53 electronic devices seized, and $11 million in potentially freezable funds identified across multiple countries,” Patel wrote.

He said the targeted networks operated through scam centres that exploited victims, stole their life savings and conducted fraudulent activities across international borders.

“These scam centres exploit innocent victims, steal life savings, and operate across international borders believing they are beyond the reach of law enforcement,” Patel said.

They’re wrong.”

The FBI director commended Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the bureau’s partners in London for their cooperation, adding that authorities would continue pursuing individuals accused of targeting Americans from abroad.

The FBI’s announcement did not identify the nine suspects or disclose the specific locations where they were arrested. It also did not provide details of the allegations against each individual.

The operation forms part of a wider international crackdown coordinated by law enforcement agencies and private-sector companies to disrupt online fraud networks operating in West Africa.

In an announcement published on October 13, the United States Department of Justice said the joint enforcement effort involved agencies from several countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The wider operation resulted in 28 arrests, including 19 people arrested in Ghana and nine in Nigeria. Authorities in Ghana also seized 303 electronic devices, while the Nigerian operation accounted for 53 devices.

The Justice Department said the schemes targeted during the crackdown included law enforcement impersonation scams, digital arrest extortion, cryptocurrency investment fraud, also known as “pig butchering”, and other online fraud operations targeting victims around the world.

The operation also involved technology and financial companies that helped identify suspicious activity and disrupt scam-linked accounts and online infrastructure. According to the Justice Department, participating companies removed more than 3.7 million accounts, pages and groups used to target people in the United States, the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

Former Delta State governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has died at 71 after a period of illness, with his family announcing his death on Monday. Uduaghan died this morning, Monday, October 19, 2026, at a hospital in Abuja, according to Channels Television, which cited a family member.

His death was announced in a statement signed by his son, Toju Anire Uduaghan, on behalf of the family. The family expressed profound grief over his passing, describing him as a beloved father, brother, uncle, and patriarch whose life and public service touched many people across Delta State and Nigeria.

“His passing has left us devastated. Words can hardly express the depth of our sorrow at the loss of a man who meant so much to our family and whose life and service touched countless others across Delta State and Nigeria,” the statement said.

The family also thanked God for his life and contributions to public service, while praying for comfort for relatives, friends, associates, and former colleagues mourning his death.

Uduaghan governed Delta State from 2007 to 2015, serving two consecutive terms. He succeeded James Ibori as governor and remained active in politics after leaving office.

Before becoming governor, he served as Delta State Commissioner for Health from 1999 to 2003. He later served as Secretary to the State Government from 2003 to 2007. A medical doctor by profession, Uduaghan held several public offices in Delta State before rising to the state’s highest political office. His death comes three days before his 72nd birthday, which would have been on October 22. The family has not announced funeral arrangements in the reports reviewed.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said laboratory tests confirmed the infection. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Pate said the patient is a woman who recently travelled to Uganda in East Africa. She returned to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7, which worsened four days later before tests confirmed Ebola.

The minister said the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat, and other agencies are working together to stop the virus from spreading.

He said health officials had started tracing and monitoring people who might have been exposed to the patient. He urged those contacted, including relevant airline passengers, to provide the requested information and follow health officials’ instructions.

Pate also asked hospitals and other healthcare facilities nationwide to watch for suspected Ebola cases and report them quickly. He advised health workers to identify and isolate suspected patients promptly and follow strict safety measures.

He added that anyone who develops symptoms should avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before going to a hospital. The minister also warned Nigerians against spreading unverified information or stigmatising people who might have been exposed to the virus. He urged the public to rely on updates from official health authorities.