Police uncover ₦7.7bn telecom fraud, arrest six suspects

The Nigeria Police Drive says it has uncovered and dismantled a cyber-enabled fraud syndicate answerable for the unlawful diversion of a telecommunications firm’s airtime and information assets, leading to losses estimated at over ₦7.7 billion.

The invention was made by the Nationwide Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) following a petition from a Nigerian telecommunications firm over suspicious and unauthorised actions inside its billing and cost methods.

The police stated investigations revealed that inside workers login credentials have been compromised, permitting the suspects illegal entry to the corporate’s core infrastructure.

The pressure stated coordinated enforcement operations have been carried out in Kano and Katsina states in October 2025, with a follow-up arrest later made within the federal capital territory (FCT).

Six suspects — Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu and Masa’ud Sa’advert — have been arrested throughout the operations.

In accordance with the police, property recovered from the suspects embody two residential homes in Kano, two mini-plazas, GSM and laptop computer stores containing greater than 400 laptops, about 1,000 cell phones and a Toyota RAV4 car.

The pressure stated substantial sums of cash traced to the suspects’ {bank} accounts have been additionally recovered.

The police added that the suspects can be charged to court docket upon the conclusion of investigations.

IGP Kayode Egbetokun recommended officers of the NPF–NCCC for what he described as professionalism in dealing with the investigation.

“The Inspector-Basic of Police reiterates the unwavering resolve of the Nigeria police pressure, by way of the NPF–NCCC, to safeguard Nigeria’s digital and {financial} ecosystems, dismantle cybercriminal networks, and make sure that offenders are held accountable no matter place or affiliation,” police spokesman, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin stated in a press release.