The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration authorities over various alleged criminal offences, as the administration intensifies its deportation campaign.
According to information published by DHS, the Nigerian nationals were arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in different locations across the country.
The offences listed against them include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, forgery, assault and cruelty towards a child.
In announcing the arrests, DHS said the publication was intended to highlight non-US citizens with criminal records who had been apprehended 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 department said.
DHS added that the agency was implementing President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, including large-scale deportation operations targeting individuals it considers priorities.
The announcement forms part of the US government’s broader efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and remove non-citizens subject to deportation.
Full List of 24 Nigerians Named by US Authorities
The following are the names, offences and arrest locations provided in the DHS announcement.
- Emmanuel Omowaiye — Mail fraud; Richmond, Texas.
- Laurene Onwuka — Fraud and impersonation; Chantilly, Virginia.
- Olusegun Shonekan — Wire fraud; Newark, New Jersey.
- Olusegun Olaseni — Amphetamine sale; Greencastle, Indiana.
- Peter Ude — Wire fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.
- Newton Jemide — Wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud; Fort Dix, New Jersey.
- Shedrack Umukoro — Money laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.
- Olasoji Akinbode — Fraud and impersonation; Kearny, New Jersey.
- Oluwatosin Afolabi — Fraud; Conroe, Texas.
- Alameen Adetunji Tokosi — Drug possession; Chicago, Illinois.
- Joshua Ipoade — Wire fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.
- Michael Orji — Weapons offence, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering; Oxford, Wisconsin.
- Ahmadu Apooyin — Drug-related offence; Baltimore, Maryland.
- Teslim Kiriji — Money laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.
- Onomen Uduebor — Identity theft; Seattle, Washington.
- Charles Ochi — Money laundering; White Deer, Pennsylvania.
- Daniel Eta — Wire fraud; White Deer, Pennsylvania.
- Ifeanyi Ibennah — Cruelty towards a child; Tampa, Florida.
- Kazeem Runsewe — Wire fraud; Thomson, Illinois.
- Fatiu Lawal — Wire fraud; Lompoc, California.
- Justin Akubueze — Money laundering; Orem, Utah.
- Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo — Larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property; Orlando, Florida.
- Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi — Assault; Alden, New York.
- Bright Eigbedion — Money laundering; Lompoc, California.
US Intensifies Immigration Enforcement
DHS said the publication was part of its wider immigration enforcement campaign, with ICE conducting arrests across different parts of the United States.
The campaign reflects the Trump administration’s efforts to prioritise the arrest and removal of non-citizens identified by immigration authorities for enforcement action.
However, the announcement does not provide detailed information about the final immigration status or deportation proceedings of each person named.
Being listed among those arrested does not, on its own, establish that an individual has been convicted of every offence listed or has already been deported. The precise legal status of each case would require further verification.
Source attribution: US Department of Homeland Security announcement, as described in the supplied report.
