The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a massive ₦7.7 billion cyber-enabled telecommunications fraud, leading to the arrest of six suspects accused of illegally diverting airtime and data belonging to a major telecom company.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, the operation was conducted by the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) after the affected company raised a petition over irregularities in its billing and payment systems.
Investigations revealed that internal staff login credentials had been compromised, allowing cybercriminals unauthorized access to the company’s core infrastructure. This breach enabled the syndicate to divert large volumes of airtime and data, causing financial losses estimated at over ₦7.7 billion.
After weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance, the police launched coordinated operations in October 2025 across Kano and Katsina States, with a subsequent arrest made in the Federal Capital Territory.
Six suspects were taken into custody: Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad.
Recovered items included two residential properties in Kano, two mini-plazas, several GSM and laptop retail outlets housing more than 400 laptops and 1,000 mobile phones, as well as a Toyota RAV4 vehicle. Authorities said the assets were proceeds from the alleged criminal activities.
The police also confirmed the recovery of significant sums of money traced to the suspects’ bank accounts. The suspects are expected to be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
Commending the officers involved, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun praised their professionalism and dedication. He reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment, through the NPF–NCCC, to protecting the nation’s digital and financial systems, dismantling cybercrime networks, and holding offenders accountable regardless of status or affiliation