Police Bust Cybercrime Ring, Expose ₦7.7bn Telecom Fraud

Operatives of the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) of the Nigeria Police Force have uncovered a cyber-enabled telecommunications fraud valued at ₦7.7 billion.
The police also arrested six suspected members of a criminal syndicate allegedly involved in the illegal diversion of airtime and data belonging to a telecommunications company.

This development was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin.
Hundeyin explained that the intelligence-driven operation was initiated following a petition submitted by a Nigerian telecom operator, which reported suspicious and unauthorized activities within its billing and payment systems.
According to the statement, investigations revealed that login credentials belonging to internal staff had been compromised, allowing the perpetrators unlawful access to the company’s core operational systems.
“After several weeks of 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,” the statement noted.
“The operation resulted in 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 arrests include two residential houses in Kano, two mini-plazas, GSM and laptop retail shops stocked with over 400 laptops and 1,000 mobile phones, as well as a Toyota RAV4 vehicle, all believed to be proceeds of the crime.
“Significant sums of money traced to the suspects’ bank accounts were also recovered. The suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.
Hundeyin further disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the officers involved for their professionalism and dedication.
“The IGP reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s firm commitment, through the NPF–NCCC, to protecting the nation’s digital and financial infrastructure, dismantling cybercriminal networks, and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice irrespective of their status or affiliation,” the statement concluded.