The Nigeria Police Force, through its National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC), has uncovered a large-scale cyber-enabled telecommunications fraud estimated at over ₦7.7 billion, leading to the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of multiple high-value assets.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects were part of a sophisticated syndicate that illegally diverted airtime and data resources belonging to a Nigerian telecommunications company. The case followed a formal petition by the company after it detected suspicious and unauthorised activities within its billing and payment systems.
According to investigators, the syndicate gained unlawful access to the telecom firm’s core infrastructure after compromising internal staff login credentials, allowing them to manipulate systems and divert resources over an extended period.
After weeks of intelligence gathering and operational planning, coordinated enforcement actions were carried out in October 2025 across Kano and Katsina states, with a subsequent arrest made in the Federal Capital Territory. Six suspects were taken into custody during the operations.
Those arrested were identified as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad.
Items recovered during the operation include two residential houses in Kano, two mini-plazas, GSM and laptop retail outlets stocked with more than 400 laptops and about 1,000 mobile phones, as well as a Toyota RAV4 vehicle. Police said the assets were proceeds of the alleged crime. In addition, substantial sums of money traced to the suspects’ bank accounts were also recovered.
The suspects are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commended officers of the National Cybercrime Centre for their professionalism and diligence in handling the case.
The police leadership reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s digital and financial systems, warning that cybercriminal networks will continue to be dismantled and offenders prosecuted, regardless of their status or affiliations.
