The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a large-scale cyber-enabled fraud scheme involving the illegal diversion of airtime and data resources belonging to a major telecommunications company, resulting in losses estimated at over ₦7.7 billion.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the operation was carried out by the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) following a petition from the affected telecom firm, which raised concerns over suspicious activities within its billing and payment systems.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate gained unauthorized access to the company’s core infrastructure after compromising internal staff login credentials, enabling them to manipulate billing platforms and divert resources for personal gain.
After weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance, coordinated raids were conducted in October 2025 across Kano and Katsina States, with a follow-up arrest later made in the Federal Capital Territory. The exercise led to the arrest of six suspects identified as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad.
Items recovered during the operation included two residential houses in Kano, two mini-plazas, GSM and laptop retail outlets stocked with over 400 laptops and 1,000 mobile phones, as well as a Toyota RAV4 vehicle. Investigators also traced and recovered substantial sums of money from the suspects’ bank accounts, believed to be proceeds of the crime.
Police authorities said the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Reacting to the breakthrough, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the officers involved for their professionalism and dedication. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting the country’s digital and financial systems and to dismantling cybercrime networks.
The IGP stressed that offenders would be brought to justice regardless of their status or affiliation, warning that cybercrime remains a major threat to national economic security.
The Nigeria Police, through the National Cybercrime Centre, assured citizens and corporate organisations of continued efforts to combat digital fraud and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications and financial sectors.
