The Inside Hack: NPF Dismantles ₦7.7 Billion Telecom Airtime & Data Fraud Ring
In a massive blow to cyber-enabled crime, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has dismantled a sophisticated syndicate that siphoned a staggering ₦7.7 billion in airtime and data from a leading Nigerian telecommunications company.
The breakthrough, announced by Force Spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, follows a relentless weeks-long investigation spanning Kano, Katsina, and Abuja.
The “Inside Job” Angle
This wasn’t just a random external attack. Investigations revealed a critical security failure: the hackers compromised internal staff login credentials. By masquerading as employees, the threat actors bypassed the company’s billing and payment infrastructure, gaining unrestricted access to core systems to divert massive digital resources.
NPF Dismantles ₦7.7 Billion Telecom Airtime & Data Fraud Ring
The ₦7.7 Billion Haul
The scale of the operation was industrial. Police identified the six primary suspects as Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad. In a series of coordinated raids, operatives recovered:
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Over 400 laptops and 1,000 mobile phones.
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Two mini-plazas and several retail outlets used as fronts.
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A Toyota vehicle and substantial funds traced to various bank accounts.
Inspector-General of Police, (IG) Kayode Egbetokun,
A Warning to the Industry
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, praised the professionalism of the NPF-NCCC team but warned that the “insider threat” remains one of the greatest risks to Nigeria’s digital economy. The suspects are currently in custody and will face prosecution as soon as the final phase of the investigation is completed.
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