NPF ARRESTS 6 SUSPECTED TELECOM FRAUDSTERS; RECOVERS 400 LAPTOPS, 1,000 MOBILE PHONES, 4 BUILDINGS, 1 CAR

opeolumartinJanuary 29, 202603 mins

Abuja, Nigeria, January 29, 2026

Nigeria’s fight against cybercrime has recorded a major breakthrough as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), through the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC), dismantled a sophisticated telecom fraud syndicate responsible for an estimated financial loss of over ₦7.7 billion.

The criminal network was found to have illegally diverted airtime and data resources belonging to a major telecommunications company by exploiting vulnerabilities within its digital infrastructure. Investigations revealed that the fraudsters compromised staff login credentials, granting them unauthorized access to core operational systems. This breach allowed the syndicate to manipulate billing platforms and siphon airtime and data resources on a massive scale over an extended period.

According to a statement issued by the Force, the operation was initiated following a formal petition by the affected telecom company, which had observed suspicious activities within its billing and payment systems. Acting on the complaint, detectives of the National Cybercrime Centre launched an intensive investigation, combining digital forensics, intelligence gathering, and covert surveillance.
After weeks of coordinated operations, police operatives arrested six suspects in raids conducted across Kano and Katsina States, with a follow-up arrest made in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Items recovered during the operations include two residential houses in Kano, two mini-plazas housing GSM and laptop outlets, over 400 laptops, approximately 1,000 mobile phones, and a Toyota RAV4 vehicle. Investigators also traced and recovered large sums of money linked to the suspects’ bank accounts, believed to be proceeds of the illicit operation.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify additional accomplices and determine the full scope of the fraud. The arrested suspects are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Force reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s digital and telecommunications infrastructure, warning that cybercriminals and economic saboteurs will continue to face the full weight of the law.