Many laptops, phones seized, six arrested over N7.7bn telecom fraud

The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a N7.7 billion cyber-enabled telecommunications fraud involving the illegal diversion of airtime and data resources, arresting six suspects linked to the scheme.

The arrests followed an investigation by the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Centre, NPF–NCCC, after a telecommunications firm petitioned the Police over suspicious and unauthorised activities detected within its billing and payment systems.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, said investigations revealed that internal staff login credentials had been compromised, granting unauthorised access to the company’s core infrastructure.

According to the Police, the syndicate exploited the breach to divert airtime and data resources, leading to an estimated financial loss exceeding N7.7 billion.

Hundeyin said coordinated enforcement operations were carried out in October 2025 across Kano and Katsina states, with a follow-up arrest in the Federal Capital Territory.

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Police nab suspects

He disclosed that six suspects, Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu and Masa’ud Sa’ad, were apprehended during the operation.

Items recovered from the suspects include two residential houses in Kano, two mini-plazas, GSM and laptop retail outlets housing over 400 laptops and 1,000 mobile phones, as well as a Toyota RAV4 vehicle, all alleged to be proceeds of the crime.

The police also recovered substantial sums of money traced to the suspects’ bank accounts, adding that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

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