Nigeria Police Uncovers N7.7B Cyber Fraud

The Nigeria — Nigeria Police Force, through its National Cybercrime Centre, has uncovered and dismantled a sophisticated cyber-enabled fraud syndicate responsible for the illegal diversion of a telecommunications company's airtime and data resources, resulting in an estimated financial loss of over N7.7 billion. The investigation began after the affected company reported suspicious activities within its billing and payments infrastructure, revealing that internal staff login credentials had been compromised. Coordinated enforcement operations in October 2025 across Kano, Katsina, and the Federal Capital Territory led to the arrest of six suspects: Ahmad Bala, Bala Mohammed, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Mas ud Sa ad. Authorities recovered significant assets believed to be proceeds of the crime, including residential houses, retail outlets with numerous laptops and mobile phones, a vehicle, and substantial sums of money. Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, commended the officers involved and reaffirmed the Nigeria — Nigeria Police Force's commitment to safeguarding Nigeria's digital and financial ecosystems.