Nigerian Police Bust ₦7.7bn Telecom Fraud Syndicate, Arrest Six Suspects

The Nigerian Police Force revealed the dismantling of a cyber-enabled fraud syndicate responsible for illegal diversions of telecommunications resources, causing an estimated loss of ₦7.7 billion. The operation, conducted in October 2025 in Kano and Katsina states, led to the arrest of six suspects, including Ahmad Bala Karibu, Moham Shehu Umar, Habib Obinna Ananaba, and Ibrahim Shehu Masa'udu.

The suspects unlawfully accessed a telecom company's core infrastructure through compromised internal staff login credentials, allowing them to engage in fraudulent activities. The police recovered substantial assets, including two residential houses, a mini plaza, laptops, mobile phones, a Toyota RAV4 vehicle, and a significant sum of money traced to the suspects' bank accounts.

The suspects will face charges in court following the conclusion of investigations. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the Nigerian Police Force for its professional handling of the case, emphasizing the commitment to safeguarding Nigeria's digital financial ecosystem and holding offenders accountable.