The Nigeria Police Pressure–Nationwide Cybercrime Centre has arrested six suspects over an alleged N7.7 billion telecommunications fraud involving the unlawful diversion of airtime and information sources.
The event was disclosed in an announcement issued on Wednesday by the Pressure Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on the Pressure Headquarters in Abuja.
Based on the police, the arrests adopted weeks of coordinated investigations triggered by a petition from an unnamed Nigerian telecommunications firm over suspicious actions in its billing methods.
The police mentioned the operation led to the dismantling of what it described as a complicated cyber-enabled fraud syndicate, with a number of property allegedly linked to the proceeds of the crime recovered throughout a number of states.
What they’re saying
Police authorities mentioned the alleged fraud concerned unauthorised entry to essential telecom infrastructure, leading to vital monetary losses for the affected firm.
- They defined that compromised inside credentials have been used to illegally divert airtime and information sources for felony acquire.
“The syndicate was answerable for the unlawful diversion of a telecommunications firm’s airtime and information sources, leading to an estimated monetary lack of over N7.7 billion.”
“Following weeks of planning, coordinated enforcement operations have been executed in October 2025 in Kano and Katsina states, with a follow-up arrest within the Federal Capital Territory.”
“The operation led to the arrest of six suspects: Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’advert,” the assertion partly reads.
- The police added that the suspects can be charged to courtroom upon the conclusion of investigations, whereas property traced to the alleged fraud had been recovered.
Extra Insights
The Nigeria Police mentioned the raids and arrests resulted within the restoration of a number of high-value property allegedly acquired with proceeds from the crime.
These recoveries, in accordance with the police, replicate the dimensions and coordination of the alleged fraud syndicate:
- Two residential homes positioned in Kano have been recovered throughout the operation.
- Two mini-plazas, GSM outlets, and laptop computer stores containing over 400 laptops and about 1,000 cell phones have been seized.
- A Toyota RAV4 automobile and substantial sums of cash traced to the suspects’ bank accounts have been additionally recovered.
The Inspector-Normal of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, recommended the officers concerned and reiterated the Pressure’s dedication to defending Nigeria’s digital and monetary ecosystems.
What it’s best to know
The arrests come amid broader efforts by the Nigeria Police Pressure to clamp down on large-scale cybercrime and monetary fraud throughout the nation.
In a associated improvement, the IGP had earlier knowledgeable the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja of main recoveries linked to ongoing fraud investigations.
In 2025, police operatives reportedly recovered properties price about N6 billion from suspected fraudsters.
The recoveries have been linked to an alleged N21.4 billion fraud and cash laundering scheme involving 2,039 bank accounts throughout 56 monetary establishments.
The suspects have been accused of utilizing firms, enterprises, and associates to hide possession and the origin of illicit funds.
BusinessTimes reported that the Pressure Intelligence Division disclosed these particulars throughout an ex parte movement listening to earlier than Justice Obiora Egwatu, as investigations into the broader fraud continued.
