Police Bust Syndicate Behind ₦7.7bn Telecom Cyber Fraud
A major Nigerian telecommunications company has lost more than ₦7.7 billion to a sophisticated cyber-enabled fraud scheme that exploited compromised internal staff credentials, the Nigeria Police Force has revealed.
The fraud was uncovered by the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) following a petition by the telecom firm, which raised alarm over unusual activities within its billing and payment systems. Investigations showed that login details belonging to company employees were unlawfully accessed, giving the suspects deep control over systems used to manage airtime and data.
Police said the breach allowed the syndicate to quietly divert large volumes of telecom resources over time, converting them into illicit financial gains without triggering early detection.
A coordinated crackdown in October 2025 led to arrests across Kano and Katsina states, with another suspect later picked up in Abuja. Six individuals were taken into custody, while properties, retail outlets stocked with hundreds of laptops and mobile phones, and a luxury SUV were recovered.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun described the case as a reminder of the growing risks facing Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, stressing that cybercrime now poses a direct threat to national economic stability.
