Police Uncover & Dismantle WhatsApp Fraud Syndicate Targeting High Profile Nigerians

Posted on June 12, 2025

The Nigeria Police Force, through its National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC), has successfully uncovered and disrupted a sophisticated cyber fraud syndicate responsible for hijacking several WhatsApp accounts of citizens, particularly prominent figures, and subsequent attempts to defraud contacts within its network.

The operation followed an official complaint lodged on April 14, 2025. A swift and strategic response by the NPF-NCCC’s cyber intelligence team led to the unmasking of a calculated scheme built around mobile platform compromise and social engineering tactics.

Through advanced digital forensics and other high investigative tactics, the investigators traced the fraudulent activity across multiple Nigerian banks, resulting in the freezing of illicit funds amounting to millions of Naira. One key suspect, Onajite Okoro ‘m’, was apprehended in Warri, Delta State. The suspect confessed to collaborating with an accomplice identified as “Chief Mallam Zaki,” whom he met via Facebook, further highlighting his role in facilitating the fraudulent scheme by registering SIM cards, linking them to various bank accounts, and assisting in illicit fund transfers. Further analysis of Okoro’s fraudulent equipment and financial records has yielded concrete evidence of his involvement in the fraudulent scheme. The investigation also revealed additional syndicate members still at large. Efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspects, conclude investigations and proceed for prosecution.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, once again emphasized the zero-tolerance approach of the Nigeria Police Force to all sorts of crime, particularly financial and cyber-related crimes, and its readiness to respond decisively to evolving digital threats.

The IGP said that the Force is currently working with relevant stakeholders and financial institutions to extend the investigation and ensure all culprits are brought to justice.

Citizens are urged to adopt safer digital practices, including securing communication channels, using multi-factor authentication, and remaining alert to suspicious messages, even from trusted sources. He said that the Nigeria Police Force remains fully committed to protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s cyberspace and ensuring that all threat actors, regardless of their status or targets, face the full weight of the law.