Nigerian police dismantle cybercrime ring after N7.7 billion telecom fraud bust
A major cybercrime operation has been dismantled in Nigeria after six suspects were arrested for allegedly defrauding a telecommunications company of N7.7 billion. The Nigeria Police Force-National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) carried out coordinated raids across Kano, Katsina, and the Federal Capital Territory, leading to the arrests and the recovery of high-value assets linked to the fraud.
The suspectsâidentified as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa'ud Sa'adâare accused of illegally accessing telecom infrastructure to divert airtime and data resources for personal gain.
The investigation began after the affected telecommunications company filed a formal petition. Authorities uncovered that the suspects had used compromised internal credentials to siphon off airtime and data, causing financial losses exceeding N7.7 billion.
During the operation, officers seized two residential properties, two mini-plazas, multiple GSM shops, over 400 laptops, and around 1,000 mobile phones. A Toyota RAV4 vehicle and substantial sums of money from the suspects' bank accounts were also recovered.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), though not directly involved in this case, had previously arrested six individuals on January 30, 2026, in a separate but similar finance fraud investigation. The NPF-NCCC has confirmed that the current suspects will face charges once investigations are complete.
The arrests mark the dismantling of a sophisticated cyber-enabled fraud syndicate. Authorities have recovered significant assets tied to the crime, and the suspects will be prosecuted following the conclusion of the investigation. The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat financial crimes targeting Nigeria's telecommunications sector.
