₦7.7bn Telecom Fraud Exposed: Police Arrest 6, Seize Laptops, Phones, Mansions

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The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against cybercrime with the dismantling of a sophisticated telecommunications fraud syndicate accused of illegally diverting airtime and mobile data valued at over ₦7.7 billion.

The operation was led by the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) following a formal petition from a leading telecommunications company after it detected persistent anomalies within its billing and payment systems. Investigators uncovered that the suspects exploited compromised internal staff login credentials to gain unauthorized access to the company’s core infrastructure, enabling large-scale diversion of telecom resources.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, intelligence-driven investigations and weeks of surveillance culminated in coordinated raids carried out between October 2025 and January 2026 across Kano State, Katsina State, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).

Six suspects were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad.

Police described the syndicate as a highly organized cyber-enabled criminal network that exploited system vulnerabilities for financial gain, posing a significant threat to Nigeria’s digital economy and critical telecommunications infrastructure.

A substantial cache of assets believed to be proceeds of the alleged crime was recovered. These include two residential buildings in Kano, two mini-plazas operating as GSM and laptop retail outlets, more than 400 laptops, over 1,000 mobile phones, a Toyota RAV4 SUV, and large sums of money traced to multiple bank accounts linked to the suspects.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the operatives of the NPF–NCCC for what authorities have described as one of the most significant cybercrime crackdowns in Nigeria’s telecom sector. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting the nation’s digital, financial, and communications ecosystems.

The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, with police confirming that they will be charged to court upon the conclusion of inquiries. Authorities also disclosed that further arrests may follow as the probe widens.

The bust has sparked widespread reactions online, with images and videos of the seized items circulating rapidly across social media platforms. Analysts say the case highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminal networks and the urgent need for stronger internal security controls within Nigeria’s critical infrastructure sectors.

The Nigeria Police Force has urged telecom operators and the general public to remain vigilant and report suspicious cyber activities through official channels as efforts to combat cybercrime intensify nationwide.