By Festus Fifen

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) have uncovered a massive ₦6.174 billion cyber fraud diverted from a financial institution’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) following a systemic API configuration vulnerability.

Briefing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of NPF-NCCC, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, disclosed that the diversion followed failed attempt transfers previously valued at ₦84.39 billion. Police investigators traced 761 transactions totaling ₦6.174 billion to 105 beneficiary accounts across 19 commercial banks. Two Indian nationals connected to Ecovista Industries PVT Limited have been arrested, while efforts are active to track down a key suspect at large, Sandeep Agarwala.

In a separate armed robbery and digital fraud case in Abuja, two suspects were arrested for attacking morning joggers in Garki II and stealing high-end smartphones, including a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and an iPhone 17 Pro Max. The suspects unauthorizedly accessed the victim’s banking applications, converting $950 from her domiciliary account and draining over ₦1.3 million in local funds and airtime purchases. Operatives recovered a 2010 Toyota Corolla, seven POS terminals, a firearm, and multiple identity cards linked to false BVNs and NINs.

The Cybercrime Center also cracked a major breach of trust involving Segjo Logistics, owned by Olusegun Ojo. A shipment of 222 iPhones and 15 smartwatches valued at $144,440 imported from Dubai was fraudulently emptied and swapped with newspapers and chargers. Through digital forensics, police traced and recovered several stolen devices across Ibadan, Lagos, and Kano, arresting five suspects linked to the syndicate.

Additionally, AIG Ezima announced the arrest and ongoing extradition proceedings of Abiodun Olawale Lawal. Apprehended in Abuja on September 11, Lawal is wanted by the United States government for wire fraud and attempted wire fraud charges under U.S. laws, carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence per count. He remains remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre ahead of his October 7 court date.

Beyond enforcement actions, the NPF-NCCC reiterated the importance of public awareness and proactive digital hygiene. AIG Ezima announced that the Police Force will host its flagship Cybersecurity Awareness Week from October 15 to 17, featuring educational lectures, school sensitization visits, and a public walkathon.
The police leadership under

AIG Akaninyene reiterated the Inspector-General of Police IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu’s commitment to deploying intelligence-led policing, strengthening international law enforcement partnerships, and safeguarding Nigeria’s digital and financial ecosystems against evolving cyber threats.