Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested six suspected cybercriminals over an alleged large-scale breach of a major telecommunications company, resulting in the diversion of an estimated N7.7 billion worth of airtime and mobile data.
The suspects were identified as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad. According to police sources, the arrests followed weeks of intelligence-led investigations into suspicious activity detected on the telecom operator’s network.
During coordinated operations across multiple locations, officers recovered more than 400 laptops and about 1,000 mobile phones allegedly used to execute the cyber intrusion and reroute airtime and data to unauthorised channels.
Police also seized two mini plazas believed to have served as operational hubs for the syndicate, as well as a Toyota vehicle linked to the suspects.
READ ALSO: Police bust illegal baby factory in Ekiti, rescue six children
Investigators allege that the group exploited vulnerabilities in telecom systems to generate and divert airtime and data at scale, causing significant financial losses and undermining trust in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The police said forensic analysis of the seized devices is ongoing and could lead to additional arrests.
The suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Authorities said the case underscores the growing sophistication of cybercrime in Nigeria and the need for closer collaboration between law enforcement agencies and private sector operators.
Police officials reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling cybercrime networks, stressing that protecting the country’s digital economy remains a priority as Nigeria deepens its reliance on technology-driven services.