The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has taken six individuals into custody over an alleged cyber intrusion targeting a Nigerian telecommunications operator, which reportedly led to the illegal diversion of airtime and mobile data worth over ₦7.7 billion.
The development was disclosed in an official statement by Benjamin Hundeyin, the Force Public Relations Officer, who said the arrests were carried out with support from the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC).
Petition Triggered Telecoms Cybercrime Investigation
According to the police, the investigation began after the affected telecoms company submitted a petition flagging unusual transactions within its billing and payment systems.
Subsequent forensic checks revealed that the suspects allegedly gained unauthorised access by exploiting compromised staff credentials, allowing them to penetrate core internal systems and divert airtime and data resources.
Arrests Conducted in Kano, Katsina and Abuja
Hundeyin explained that the suspects were apprehended during coordinated operations in October 2025 across Kano and Katsina States, with an additional arrest later executed in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).
The arrested individuals were identified as:
- Ahmad Bala
- Karibu Mohammed Shehu
- Umar Habib
- Obinna Ananaba
- Ibrahim Shehu
- Masa’ud Sa’ad
Police Recover Properties, Devices and Vehicles
The police said several assets and tools linked to the alleged cybercrime were recovered during the raids. These include:
- Two residential properties located in Kano
- Two mini shopping plazas
- GSM and computer retail shops
- More than 400 laptop computers
- Over 1,000 mobile phones
- A Toyota RAV4 vehicle
Authorities also confirmed the recovery of large sums of money traced to the suspects’ bank accounts. The six suspects are expected to be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.
IGP Reaffirms Commitment to Cybersecurity
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised officers involved in the operation, describing their conduct as professional and thorough.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NPF and the National Cybercrime Centre to protecting Nigeria’s digital, financial, and telecommunications infrastructure and ensuring cybercrime offenders face prosecution.
Nigeria Police Step Up Fight Against Cybercrime
The arrests are part of a broader nationwide effort by the NPF-NCCC to dismantle organised cybercrime networks operating across the country.
In October 2025, the cybercrime unit secured the conviction of 59 foreign nationals connected to an international internet fraud ring involved in sophisticated hacking and online financial crimes.
These convictions brought the total number of convicted suspects in the case to 85, following earlier convictions of 21 individuals in August 2025 and five others in September 2025.
Inside Nigeria’s National Cybercrime Centre
Established in July 2024, the National Cybercrime Centre is a state-of-the-art facility created to prevent and combat digital crimes, including large-scale fraud schemes popularly associated with Yahoo Boys.
The Nigeria Police Force noted that it has reorganised, upgraded, and strengthened its cybercrime unit with skilled personnel and modern technology to improve response capabilities and secure Nigeria’s cyberspace.
Key Takeaways
The alleged ₦7.7 billion telecoms fraud underscores the growing cybersecurity threats facing Nigeria’s digital economy, particularly as telecoms and financial systems become more interconnected.
At the same time, the case highlights the expanding capacity of Nigerian law enforcement agencies to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute complex cyber-enabled financial crimes, reinforcing efforts to safeguard the country’s digital infrastructure.
