The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled a cybercrime syndicate accused of hacking into a telecommunications company’s systems and illegally diverting airtime and mobile data valued at ₦7.7 billion, leading to the arrest of six suspects.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the operation was triggered by a formal complaint from the affected telecom firm, which reported persistent irregularities within its billing and payment platforms.
According to Hundeyin, investigations by the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) showed that the suspects exploited compromised internal login credentials to gain unauthorised access to the company’s core infrastructure, enabling the large-scale diversion of airtime and data resources.
The police said the illicit operation caused estimated losses exceeding ₦7.7 billion.
Following weeks of covert surveillance and digital forensic analysis, coordinated raids were conducted in October 2025 across Kano and Katsina states, with a subsequent arrest made in the Federal Capital Territory.
Six individuals were arrested during the operations. They were identified as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu and Masa’ud Sa’ad.
Recovered assets allegedly linked to the fraud include two residential properties in Kano, two mini-plazas, GSM and laptop retail outlets stocked with over 400 laptops and about 1,000 mobile phones, as well as a Toyota RAV4 vehicle.
The police also said significant funds traced to the suspects’ bank accounts have been recovered, adding that the suspects would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.
Commending the officers involved, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, said the operation underscored the resolve of the Nigeria Police Force to combat cybercrime.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the NPF, through the NCCC, to safeguarding Nigeria’s digital and financial ecosystems and ensuring that cybercriminals are brought to justice, regardless of their influence or affiliations.
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