Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested six suspects over the alleged hacking of a telecommunications company’s systems to divert airtime and mobile data valued at ₦7.7 billion.
The arrests were disclosed on Wednesday in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who said the suspects allegedly gained unauthorised access to the core systems of the affected telecom firm.
Hundeyin identified the suspects as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad. He said items recovered during the operation included two mini plazas, several retail outlets housing more than 400 laptops, about 1,000 mobile phones, and a Toyota vehicle.
According to him, investigations also revealed that a “substantial” amount of money linked to the alleged crime was traced to the suspects’ bank accounts.
“The syndicate was responsible for the illegal diversion of a telecommunications company’s airtime and data resources, resulting in an estimated financial loss of over ₦7.7 billion,” the statement read.
“The breakthrough followed a petition by a Nigerian telecommunications company, which reported suspicious and unauthorised activities within its billing and payments infrastructure.
“Investigations revealed that internal staff login credentials had been compromised, granting threat actors unlawful access to core systems.
“Following weeks of planning, coordinated enforcement operations were executed in October 2025 in Kano and Katsina States, with a follow-up arrest in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The suspects would be charged to court on the completion of the investigation.
“Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has commended the officers involved in the investigation for their professionalism.”
What you should know
The arrest highlights growing concerns over cybercrime targeting Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, particularly through the compromise of internal system credentials.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly exploited access to billing and payment infrastructure to divert large volumes of airtime and mobile data for financial gain. The case underscores the increasing sophistication of cyber-related offences and the risks posed by insider credential breaches.
Authorities say the suspects will face prosecution once investigations are concluded, as law enforcement intensifies efforts to protect critical digital infrastructure across the country.
