The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration authorities in different parts of the country over alleged criminal offences.
The disclosure comes amid the administration of President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration enforcement drive, which has prioritised the arrest and removal of non-US citizens identified by authorities as having criminal records.
According to information released by DHS, the individuals were arrested by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in various locations across the country.
The offences associated with the individuals include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, identity theft, impersonation, drug-related crimes, forgery, weapons violations, assault and cruelty towards a child.
In its announcement, the department said the publication was intended to highlight foreign nationals with criminal records apprehended by immigration enforcement officers.
However, the list includes different categories of alleged offences, and the publication does not establish that every individual has been convicted of every offence associated with their case.
Full List of 24 Nigerians Named by US Authorities
The following individuals were identified in the DHS announcement, alongside the offences and locations associated with their cases:
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 violations, 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 list, as published by the US authorities, covers multiple categories of alleged criminal conduct, rather than fraud alone.
US Intensifies Immigration Enforcement
The announcement comes as the Trump administration continues its drive to strengthen immigration enforcement and deport foreign nationals identified as priorities under its policies.
ICE conducts immigration enforcement operations across the United States, including arrests of non-citizens whose cases involve criminal records or other immigration-related grounds.
DHS has repeatedly defended the operations as part of its efforts to enforce US immigration laws and improve public safety.
However, the publication of an individual’s name in an immigration enforcement announcement does not, by itself, establish that the person has been deported or that all allegations associated with the case have resulted in a criminal conviction.
The legal and immigration status of each individual may differ depending on the circumstances of the case.
Fraud Allegations and Nigeria’s International Image
The development is likely to renew discussions about the international reputation of Nigerians, particularly in relation to financial crimes and online fraud.
Wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering are serious offences under US law and can attract substantial penalties when established in court.
Nevertheless, the alleged conduct of individuals should not be used to portray an entire nationality as criminal.
The 24 individuals named by DHS represent a specific group of people apprehended in the United States. Their cases cannot, on their own, establish the prevalence of fraud among Nigerians at home or abroad.
For Nigeria, the broader challenge remains the need to strengthen cooperation with international law enforcement agencies, support legitimate businesses operating across borders and ensure that those who commit financial crimes are held accountable through due process.
What Happens Next?
The next steps in the cases will depend on the legal circumstances of each individual, including any outstanding criminal proceedings and immigration processes.
US authorities have not provided a comprehensive account of the final legal and immigration status of all 24 individuals in the announcement reviewed.
Consequently, it remains unclear from the published list which individuals have completed their criminal proceedings, which may face further court action and which have been ordered removed from the United States.
The development underscores the intersection between criminal justice and immigration enforcement in the United States, as authorities continue to pursue cases involving foreign nationals accused of various offences.
For the individuals named, the outcome of their respective cases will depend on the applicable legal processes and the evidence considered by the relevant authorities.
