US Authorities Name 24 Nigerians Arrested Over Alleged Crimes

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration authorities over alleged criminal offences as the country continues its deportation operations.

According to the department, the individuals were arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in different locations across the country.

The allegations listed against them include wire and mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related offences, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations and cruelty towards a child.

According to TheCable newspaper, DHS said the publication was intended to highlight non-US citizens with criminal records who had been arrested by immigration enforcement officers.

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the statement reads.

“Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here.”

The department listed the following Nigerian nationals, the alleged offences associated with their cases and the locations of their arrests:

1. Emmanuel Omowaiye — mail fraud, Richmond, Texas.
2. Laurene Onwuka — fraud and impersonation, Chantilly, Virginia.
3. Olusegun Shonekan — wire fraud, Newark, New Jersey.
4. Olusegun Olaseni — amphetamine sale, Greencastle, Indiana.
5. Peter Ude — wire fraud, Atlanta, Georgia.
6. Newton Jemide — wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud, Fort Dix, New Jersey.
7. Shedrack Umukoro — money laundering, Yazoo City, Mississippi.
8. Olasoji Akinbode — fraud and impersonation, Kearny, New Jersey.
9. Oluwatosin Afolabi — fraud, Conroe, Texas.
10. Alameen Adetunji Tokosi — drug possession, Chicago, Illinois.
11. Joshua Ipoade — wire fraud, Atlanta, Georgia.
12. Michael Orji — weapons violation, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering, Oxford, Wisconsin.
13. Ahmadu Apooyin — drug-related offence, Baltimore, Maryland.
14. Teslim Kiriji — money laundering, Yazoo City, Mississippi.
15. Onomen Uduebor — identity theft, Seattle, Washington.
16. Charles Ochi — money laundering, White Deer, Pennsylvania.
17. Daniel Eta — wire fraud, White Deer, Pennsylvania.
18. Ifeanyi Ibennah — cruelty towards a child, Tampa, Florida.
19. Kazeem Runsewe — wire fraud, Thomson, Illinois.
20. Fatiu Lawal — wire fraud, Lompoc, California.
21. Justin Akubueze — money laundering, Orem, Utah.
22. Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo — larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property, Orlando, Florida.
23. Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi — assault, Alden, New York.
24. Bright Eigbedion — money laundering, Lompoc, California.

The announcement comes amid the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement and deportation efforts.

However, the DHS announcement does not establish that all the individuals have been convicted of the offences listed against them. The allegations and the circumstances of each case would need to be assessed individually.