The Nigeria Police Force, through its National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC), has uncovered and dismantled a major cyber-enabled fraud syndicate responsible for the illegal diversion of telecommunications airtime and data valued at over ₦7.7 billion.
The operation followed a formal petition by a
Nigerian telecommunications company, which
raised concerns over suspicious and
unauthorised activities within its billing and
payment systems. Investigations revealed that
the syndicate gained unlawful access to the
company’s core infrastructure after
compromising internal staff login credentials.
According to police findings, the breach enabled
the criminals to manipulate airtime and data
resources over an extended period, resulting in
significant financial losses for the affected
telecom operator.
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 arrested during the operation:
Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar
Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and
Masa’ud Sa’ad.
Items recovered from the suspects include two
residential buildings in Kano, two mini-plazas,
GSM and laptop retail outlets stocked with over
400 laptops and about 1,000 mobile phones, as
well as a Toyota RAV4 vehicle. The police also
recovered substantial sums of money traced to
the suspects’ bank accounts, all believed to be
proceeds of the illicit activities.
The Nigeria Police Force disclosed that the
suspects are currently under investigation and
will be charged to court upon the conclusion of
the probe.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-
General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun,
commended the officers of the National
Cybercrime Centre for their professionalism and
dedication. He reaffirmed the Force’s
commitment to protecting Nigeria’s digital and
financial ecosystems and ensuring that
cybercriminals are held accountable, regardless
of their status or affiliations.
Why This Matters
The bust highlights the growing threat of
cybercrime to Nigeria’s digital economy,
particularly within critical sectors such as
telecommunications. By dismantling the
syndicate and recovering high-value assets, the
operation sends a strong signal to cybercriminals
and reinforces public confidence in Nigeria’s
cybercrime enforcement framework.
The Nigeria Police Force noted that sustained
intelligence-led operations remain central to its
strategy to curb cyber fraud and protect
businesses, consumers, and national economic
interests. Source: Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
official statement via X
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