US Releases Names of 24 Nigerians Arrested for Fraud, Money Laundering

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the names and photographs of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested across the country for alleged criminal offences, as part of intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.

According to DHS, the arrests were carried out by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in multiple states.

The offences listed include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations, and child cruelty.

In its announcement, DHS described the individuals as “the worst of the worst criminal aliens” and said the arrests were part of ongoing mass deportation efforts targeting non-US citizens with criminal records.

The published list identifies each suspect, their alleged offences, and the locations of arrest. Among those named are:

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 - Michael Orji — Weapons violation, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship, and money laundering; Oxford, Wisconsin - Ifeanyi Ibennah — Child cruelty; Tampa, Florida.

DHS clarified that inclusion on the list does not automatically mean deportation or conviction, as immigration and criminal proceedings are still ongoing.

The announcement has drawn attention to the administration’s broader immigration enforcement drive, which prioritises the removal of non-US citizens accused of serious crimes.