Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has uncovered a major telecommunications fraud syndicate accused of compromising a telecom company’s billing infrastructure and fraudulently generating data valued at more than N7.7 billion.

The breakthrough led to the arrest of several suspects and the recovery of assets believed to be proceeds of the crime, including nearly N90 million in cash, two residential houses, a mini-plaza, and a Toyota RAV4 vehicle.

In a statement issued on Thursday, June 18, 2026,  DSP Unwana Imah, Police Public Liaison Officer of the NPF-NCCC, disclosed that investigations revealed the involvement of both insider collaborators and external accomplices in the large-scale cyber fraud operation.

According to the statement, the investigation was launched following a petition by a leading telecommunications service provider, which reported the unauthorized use of staff login credentials and a breach of its network billing system.

Preliminary findings showed that between October 1 and November 28, 2024, the suspects unlawfully accessed the company’s billing infrastructure and generated fraudulent airtime.

The airtime was subsequently converted into data bundles and distributed through a network of vendors operating across the country.

The criminal operation reportedly caused losses running into billions of naira before it was detected by the telecom provider, which promptly alerted security agencies.

“The Nigeria Police Force through the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has recorded significant progress in the investigation of a case involving Computer Related Fraud, Unauthorized Access to Computer Systems, and Theft of Telecom Services,” the statement said.

During the course of the investigation, operatives arrested several suspects and recovered more than 400 laptops, 1,000 mobile phones, Point of Sale (POS) machines, cash exhibits, and other evidential materials.

The telecommunications company was also able to reverse approximately 2,931.79 terabytes of fraudulently obtained data, valued at about N3.8 billion.

Further investigations uncovered the participation of insiders working alongside external collaborators to execute the scheme.

In a second phase of operations carried out in May 2026, NPF-NCCC operatives acted on intelligence and conducted coordinated raids across Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara states, leading to the arrest of key suspects identified as Musa Muhammed Kwandi, Nura Sadauki, and Aminu Muhammed.

Other suspects arrested include IT specialist Musa Hassan Mohammed, Samson Alisigwe, and Yusuf Shehu, all of whom are believed to have benefited from the proceeds of the fraud.

Through extensive financial investigations and asset tracing efforts, police recovered almost N90 million and seized properties linked to the alleged criminal enterprise.

The NPF-NCCC said investigations are ongoing to identify additional accomplices, trace more proceeds of the crime, and ensure that all individuals found culpable are prosecuted.

Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s critical digital infrastructure and intensifying efforts to combat cybercrime across the country.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has urged Nigeria and the rest of Africa to strengthen intra-African trade and resilience to protect against geopolitical shocks.

In a recently released Trade and Development Finance Brief, titled: ‘Africa’s Trade and Investment Landscape’, which examines the structural challenges shaping Africa’s trade performance and investment outlook in an increasingly uncertain global environment, it pointed out that Africa’s trade landscape remained heavily dominated by the export of raw materials, including agricultural products, oil, gas and minerals.

The report, however, regretted that imports continued to be heavily skewed towards manufactured goods and machinery.

The report noted that the existing export-import configuration leaves many African economies overly exposed to unfavourable terms of trade shock on account of external headwinds, including commodity price volatility, geopolitical tensions and associated global supply chain disruptions.

According to the report, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) remained central to efforts aimed at diversifying the continent’s trade base, strengthening regional value chains and increasing intra-African trade.

It further expressed that alongside the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the AfCFTA provides a practical framework for integrating fragmented markets, expanding industrial production and boosting productivity, with intra-African exports projected to increase by more than 20 per cent within a decade as implementation advances.

Also, the report further highlighted the importance of scaling investment in trade-enabling infrastructure, including energy, transport, communications networks, ports and logistics systems, to reduce the cost of doing business and improve cross-border trade flows.

It expressed that targeted infrastructure investment could support industrialisation, strengthen regional specialisation and improve Africa’s competitiveness as an investment destination.

It also pointed to a wider set of priorities for strengthening the continent’s trade and investment ecosystem, including regulatory coherence, institutional strengthening, economic diversification, improved access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises and greater use of digital financial technologies.

Besides, the report stated that domestic and foreign investment were increasing across many African economies, notwithstanding the observed dominance of foreign investment.

It further mentioned that the direction of investment flows was uneven across sub-regions, with Eastern and Southern Africa receiving a larger share of foreign direct investment compared to Western and Central Africa.

Afreximbank said the findings reinforced the need for coordinated action to expand trade finance, improve trade-enabling infrastructure, deepen regional integration and accelerate value addition across the continent.

Managing Director, Research for AfreximBank, Dr Yemi Kale, said regional development finance institutions, including AfreximBank, were playing an increasing role in supporting intra-African trade through trade finance and related initiatives.

A recent study – Nigeria’s Credit Landscape Report 2025 – has revealed a striking paradox in the nation’s financial ecosystem, revealing that while more Nigerians are becoming financially included, only about 6% of adults currently access credit through formal financial institutions.

Published by Credit Direct in June 2026, the report highlights that although more than 64% of Nigerian adults are financially included, formal credit penetration remains significantly low. Credit to the Nigerian private sector stands at just 13.1% of GDP, well below peer African economies such as Kenya and South Africa. The findings point to persistent barriers to credit access for households, entrepreneurs and small businesses, despite improving economic conditions and growing business activity across key sectors of the economy.

The report also notes that Nigeria’s real sector recorded sustained expansion throughout 2025, with manufacturing, services and agriculture posting positive growth indicators, creating increased demand for working capital and business financing.

Reacting to the findings, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc said the report reinforces the urgent need for a more holistic approach to financial inclusion, one that combines access to finance with savings, insurance protection and long-term financial planning.

The leading insurer noted that while access to credit remains important for economic growth, financial protection mechanisms are equally essential in helping individuals and businesses withstand economic shocks.

Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, Mutual Benefits continues to provide Nigerians with tools to build, preserve and protect wealth. These include education-focused protection plans, life assurance products, savings-oriented solutions, motor and property insurance and business protection products designed to safeguard livelihoods and future goals.

According to the Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Femi Asenuga: “The conversation around financial inclusion must go beyond opening bank accounts and accessing loans. True financial empowerment is achieved when individuals and businesses can access financing opportunities while also protecting their income, assets, families and future aspirations from unforeseen risks.

“For many Nigerian families and business owners, a single unexpected event such as a medical emergency, fire incident, business disruption or loss of income, can erase years of financial progress. This is why insurance and disciplined savings remain critical pillars of long-term financial resilience.”

The report further reveals that Microfinance Banks account for only 5.4% of Nigeria’s total loan book, underscoring the need for stronger support for SMEs and underserved communities that often struggle to access conventional bank financing.

As part of its commitment to advancing financial inclusion, Mutual Microfinance Bank continues to deliver accessible financing solutions tailored to the needs of small businesses, traders, salary earners, entrepreneurs and emerging enterprises across Nigeria. As at December 31, 2025, the Bank had disbursed loans totaling N1.372 billion, further strengthening access to formal credit for individuals and businesses across its target segments. This growth trajectory continued into 2026, with the loan portfolio rising to N1.558 billion by the end of Q1 2026, reflecting sustained momentum in supporting productive economic activity

Asenuga added: “Small businesses remain the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, yet many continue to face significant barriers in accessing affordable financing. Through Mutual Microfinance Bank, we are helping to bridge this gap by providing flexible financial solutions that enable entrepreneurs to grow, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to economic development.

“At the same time, we encourage individuals and businesses to think beyond borrowing by adopting a culture of saving, risk management and financial protection. Sustainable prosperity is built not only by generating income but also by protecting it.”

With economic activity expected to strengthen further and demand for financing projected to increase across several sectors, Mutual Benefits believes that the future of financial inclusion in Nigeria will depend on creating an ecosystem where access to credit, savings and protection work together to improve financial well-being.

The company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigerians through innovative insurance solutions and accessible financial services that empower individuals, families, and businesses to build resilience, pursue opportunities confidently, and achieve lasting financial security.

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc is one of Nigeria’s leading insurance companies with over 30 years of experience in providing reliable and innovative life and non-life insurance solutions to individuals, families and businesses. Through innovation, customer-centricity and a commitment to financial inclusion, the company continues to deliver value, protection and peace of mind to customers across Nigeria.

On its part, Mutual Microfinance Bank is committed to expanding access to financial services for individuals, micro-enterprises and small businesses through innovative savings products, accessible financing solutions and customer-focused banking services that promote economic empowerment and financial inclusion.