See How Police Used Digital Forensics to Freeze Millions in Fraudulent Accounts

In a decisive blow against cybercriminals, the Nigeria Police Force has busted a WhatsApp fraud syndicate allegedly targeting high-profile individuals, including public figures, politicians, and business leaders across the country.

The operation, coordinated by the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), followed a formal complaint lodged on April 14, 2025, prompting a swift digital investigation that led to the arrest of one of the key suspects, Onajite Okoro, in Warri, Delta State.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the syndicate specialized in hijacking WhatsApp accounts and impersonating their victims to defraud unsuspecting contacts—sometimes extracting millions of naira under false pretenses.

“Through advanced digital forensics and coordinated intelligence, our operatives traced the suspects’ activities across multiple financial institutions, resulting in the freezing of several fraudulent accounts containing illicit funds,” Adejobi told journalists during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

The arrested suspect, Okoro, reportedly confessed to working closely with an accomplice known as “Chief Mallam Zaki,” whom he met through Facebook. He also admitted to registering SIM cards and linking them to compromised bank accounts used to transfer and launder stolen funds.

Investigators discovered that the syndicate leveraged social engineering tactics—posing as close friends or associates of their targets—to solicit money from victims. They also found incriminating evidence in Okoro’s possession, including multiple SIM cards, spoofing software, and transaction records spanning several months.

One of the notable targets in the ongoing investigation is Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senator representing Kogi Central. Sources close to the case confirmed that her WhatsApp number was cloned and used in an attempt to solicit funds from government officials and aides.

Another victim, Hon. Boma Akpaibo, a former House of Representatives candidate from Rivers State, reportedly fell into a similar trap when his name was used to approach political associates. Although both lawmakers were unharmed financially, the incidents have raised serious concerns about cyber vulnerabilities among Nigeria’s political elite.

“It’s one thing to be in public office and another to wake up and find your digital identity stolen,” a source close to Sen. Natasha said. “This goes beyond embarrassment—it’s digital terrorism.”

ACP Adejobi noted that while Okoro is in custody, the NPF is working with telecoms regulators and banks to track other syndicate members still at large.

“We have zero tolerance for financial and cyber-related crimes, especially those aimed at destabilizing public trust. Our job is to hunt down perpetrators and bring them to justice—no matter how long it takes,” Adejobi said.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, emphasized the Force’s commitment to protecting citizens from digital threats and ensuring Nigeria’s cyberspace remains secure.

The Police also used the opportunity to warn the public against taking cyber safety lightly. Citizens are encouraged to enable multi-factor authentication on their messaging apps, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and verify messages—even when they appear to come from known sources.

“These syndicates are evolving, and so must our awareness,” Adejobi concluded.

As investigations continue, authorities say more high-profile targets may come forward as victims. The police promised that full prosecutions will follow once all members of the syndicate are identified and apprehended.

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