Police bust N7.7bn telecom fraud, arrest six suspects

The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a ₦7.7 billion cyber-enabled telecommunications fraud involving the illegal diversion of airtime and data resources belonging to a telecoms company, arresting six suspects in connection with the crime.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the breakthrough was achieved by operatives of the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) following a petition filed by the affected company.

According to the police, the company had reported suspicious and unauthorised activities within its billing and payment systems. Investigations revealed that internal staff login credentials were compromised, allowing the perpetrators unlawful access to the company’s core infrastructure.

Hundeyin said the syndicate exploited the breach to divert large volumes of airtime and data, leading to an estimated financial loss of more than ₦7.7 billion.

He explained that after weeks of intelligence gathering and planning, coordinated enforcement operations were carried out in October 2025 across Kano and Katsina states, with a subsequent arrest made in the Federal Capital Territory.

Six suspects were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu and Masa’ud Sa’ad.

The police added that substantial sums of money linked to the fraud were traced to and recovered from the suspects’ bank accounts. The suspects are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, praised the officers involved for their professionalism and diligence.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, through the NPF–National Cybercrime Centre, to protect the country’s digital and financial systems, dismantle cybercrime networks and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, regardless of their status or affiliations.