The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration officers over alleged criminal offences. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies immigration enforcement across the country.
According to information published by DHS on Thursday, officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested the individuals in different locations across the United States. The offences listed include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations and child cruelty.
DHS said the announcement highlights non-US citizens with criminal records who were apprehended by immigration enforcement officers. However, the published information does not establish that every individual listed has been convicted of the offence associated with their case.
The department also did not provide complete details of each person’s immigration proceedings or confirm that all 24 individuals had been deported. Their inclusion on the list therefore does not, by itself, establish the outcome of their criminal or immigration cases.
DHS Explains Arrests Under Trump’s Immigration Policy
DHS described the individuals as part of its effort to publicise arrests involving non-US citizens with criminal records. The department said ICE officers were carrying out the administration’s policy of removing individuals prioritised under its immigration enforcement programme.
“The US Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the department said.
It added that officers were carrying out President Trump’s deportation policy, with enforcement efforts focused on individuals the administration considers high-priority targets.
Also, the announcement reflects the administration’s wider immigration enforcement drive. However, DHS did not publish detailed information about the legal proceedings or final immigration status of every Nigerian named in the announcement.
The development also draws attention to cases involving alleged financial crimes and identity-related offences. Other reports involving Nigerians and alleged international fraud include the case of six Nigerians handed over to the United States by South Africa over alleged romance scam fraud.
Full List of 24 Nigerians Named by DHS
The department’s publication identifies 24 Nigerian nationals, the offences associated with their cases and the locations where immigration officers arrested them. The following list reproduces the details provided in the announcement.
Nigerians Listed Over Fraud and Impersonation
- Emmanuel Omowaiye — Mail fraud; Richmond, Texas.
- Laurene Onwuka — Fraud and impersonation; Chantilly, Virginia.
- Olusegun Shonekan — Wire fraud; Newark, New Jersey.
- Peter Ude — Wire fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.
- Newton Jemide — Wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud; Fort Dix, New Jersey.
- Olasoji Akinbode — Fraud and impersonation; Kearny, New Jersey.
- Oluwatosin Afolabi — Fraud; Conroe, Texas.
- Joshua Ipoade — Wire fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.
- Kazeem Runsewe — Wire fraud; Thomson, Illinois.
- Fatiu Lawal — Wire fraud; Lompoc, California.
- Daniel Eta — Wire fraud; White Deer, Pennsylvania.
The offences listed against these individuals include different forms of alleged financial fraud. The DHS announcement, as provided, does not give detailed descriptions of the transactions or explain the outcomes of any related criminal proceedings.
For additional coverage of alleged financial crimes involving Nigerians, readers can see the report on a Nigerian man accused of fraud-related activity involving a US judge’s case.
Some Nigerians Listed Over Money Laundering
- Shedrack Umukoro — Money laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.
- Michael Orji — Weapons violation, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering; Oxford, Wisconsin.
- Teslim Kiriji — Money laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.
- Charles Ochi — Money laundering; White Deer, Pennsylvania.
- Bright Eigbedion — Money laundering; Lompoc, California.
The list associates five individuals with money laundering, although Michael Orji is also linked to several other alleged offences. DHS did not provide a detailed account of the evidence or legal outcomes associated with these entries in the supplied announcement.
Money laundering investigations often concern the movement or handling of funds suspected of being connected to criminal activity. However, the specific circumstances of the cases involving the Nigerians listed were not detailed in the publication.
Nigerians Listed Over Drug-Related Offences
- Olusegun Olaseni — Amphetamine sale; Greencastle, Indiana.
- Alameen Adetunji Tokosi — Drug possession; Chicago, Illinois.
- Ahmadu Apooyin — Drug-related offence; Baltimore, Maryland.
The three entries refer to different drug-related allegations. The information provided does not specify the quantity of substances involved, the circumstances of the arrests or whether the cases resulted in convictions.
The department’s announcement also did not outline the immigration proceedings connected to these individuals. Further details would be required to establish the status and outcome of each case.
Other Offences Listed by US Immigration Officers
- Onomen Uduebor — Identity theft; Seattle, Washington.
- Ifeanyi Ibennah — Cruelty towards a child; Tampa, Florida.
- Justin Akubueze — Money laundering; Orem, Utah.
- Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo — Larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property; Orlando, Florida.
- Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi — Assault; Alden, New York.
These entries cover alleged offences ranging from identity theft and assault to forgery and the concealment of stolen property. The information released by DHS does not provide full case histories or indicate whether every listed offence led to a criminal conviction.
The department’s publication also does not establish whether the individuals have completed any criminal sentences or remain involved in pending court proceedings. Their current legal status would require confirmation from the relevant authorities.
DHS Announcement Does Not Confirm Deportation of All 24 Nigerians
DHS said the arrests formed part of the government’s broader immigration enforcement campaign. ICE officers have been conducting operations across the United States as the Trump administration pursues its stated deportation priorities.
However, an arrest by immigration officers does not automatically establish that an individual has been deported. The announcement did not provide a final immigration decision for each person named.
It also did not include sufficient details to determine whether every offence listed resulted in a conviction. The allegations should therefore remain distinct from proven criminal conduct unless further court records or official statements establish the outcomes.
The publication comes amid continued international attention on alleged financial crimes and enforcement actions involving Nigerians. Readers can also follow related reports on the Federal Government’s response after an oil tanker was caught with cannabis and a police operation that led to the arrest of 300 suspects in the Federal Capital Territory.
Other reports have covered law enforcement operations involving alleged kidnapping and threats, including the arrest of a suspect over alleged threats against a family in Oyo State. A separate report also examined the rescue of kidnap victims by troops.
The DHS announcement did not state when the 24 Nigerians entered the United States or provide details about their individual immigration histories. It also did not clarify whether any of them had appealed their cases or qualified for other forms of legal relief.
Until further official information becomes available, the published list should be understood as DHS’s account of individuals arrested by ICE, rather than confirmation that all 24 have been convicted of every offence listed or deported from the United States.
