US Immigration Authorities Name 24 Nigerians Arrested Over Alleged Crimes

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration officers over alleged offences, including wire fraud, money laundering, identity theft, drug-related crimes and assault.

The department published the list on Thursday amid an intensified immigration enforcement and deportation campaign under President Donald Trump’s administration.

According to DHS, the individuals were arrested by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in different parts of the country.

Other offences listed against them include mail fraud, forgery, weapons violations, impersonation, larceny and cruelty towards a child.

In announcing the arrests, DHS said it was identifying non-US citizens with criminal records who had been apprehended by immigration enforcement officers.

“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 the arrests formed part of Trump’s mass deportation agenda, which prioritises individuals the administration describes as the “worst of the worst.”

The list identifies the 24 Nigerians, the offences associated with their cases and the locations where they were arrested.

The full list is as follows:

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.

DHS said the announcement was part of a wider immigration enforcement operation involving arrests across the United States as the administration pursues the removal of non-US citizens prioritised under its policies.

However, the department’s statement did not provide details of the immigration proceedings involving each individual or establish whether any of them had been deported.

The publication of their names and the offences listed against them does not, by itself, establish that every allegation resulted in a criminal conviction.