By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Police Force, through its National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC), has uncovered and dismantled a highly sophisticated cyber-enabled fraud syndicate responsible for the illegal diversion of a telecommunications company’s airtime and data resources, leading to an estimated financial loss of over ₦7.7 billion.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed in an official statement that the breakthrough followed a petition submitted by a Nigerian telecommunications company, which raised alarm over suspicious and unauthorised activities within its billing and payments infrastructure.
According to him, detailed investigations revealed that login credentials belonging to internal staff of the company had been compromised, allowing threat actors to gain unlawful access to core systems and manipulate the platform for large-scale fraudulent operations.
Acting on credible intelligence, the NPF–NCCC launched weeks of intensive planning and digital forensic analysis, which culminated in coordinated enforcement operations carried out in October 2025 across Kano and Katsina States, with a subsequent follow-up arrest in the Federal Capital Territory.
The operations 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 from the suspects include two residential houses 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, all believed to be proceeds of the crime. The Police also recovered substantial sums of money traced to accounts linked to the suspects.
The Police said the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has commended the officers involved in the investigation for their professionalism, diligence and technical expertise.
He reiterated the unwavering resolve of the Nigeria Police Force, through the NPF–NCCC, to safeguard Nigeria’s digital and financial ecosystems, dismantle cybercriminal networks, and ensure that offenders are brought to justice regardless of their status or affiliations.
The latest operation underscores the growing capacity of the Nigeria Police Force in combating cybercrime and protecting critical national digital infrastructure from emerging and evolving threats.
