The United States has named 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration authorities over criminal offences ranging from wire fraud and money laundering to drug violations, identity theft, assault and cruelty towards a child, as President Donald Trump’s administration widens its crackdown on non-US citizens with criminal records.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which published the names and photographs of the Nigerians, said they were apprehended by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at different locations across the country.
The arrests stretch across at least 14 states and involve offences including mail and wire fraud, money laundering, fraud and impersonation, drug possession and sale, identity theft, forgery, larceny, weapons violations and assault.
DHS placed the Nigerians among foreign nationals highlighted under its “Worst of the Worst” enforcement campaign — an initiative being used by the Trump administration to publicise arrests of non-US citizens with criminal records as it pushes ahead with tougher immigration enforcement and deportations.
“The US Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“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”, DHS said.
The publicatio then represents another indication of the administration’s increasingly aggressive immigration policy, under which federal authorities have prioritised the arrest and removal of non-citizens considered public-safety or immigration-enforcement targets.
A breakdown of the DHS list shows that fraud and money laundering account for a substantial proportion of the offences associated with the Nigerians.
Emmanuel Omowaiye was listed for mail fraud following his arrest in Richmond, Texas, while Laurene Onwuka, arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, was listed for fraud and impersonation.
Olusegun Shonekan, arrested in Newark, New Jersey; Peter Ude and Joshua Ipoade, both arrested in Atlanta, Georgia; Kazeem Runsewe, arrested in Thomson, Illinois; and Fatiu Lawal, arrested in Lompoc, California, were listed for wire fraud.
Newton Jemide, arrested in Fort Dix, New Jersey, was listed for wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud.
Five others — Shedrack Umukoro, Teslim Kiriji, Charles Ochi, Justin Akubueze and Bright Eigbedion — were listed for money laundering.
Umukoro and Kiriji were arrested in Yazoo City, Mississippi, while Ochi was arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania. Akubueze was apprehended in Orem, Utah, and Eigbedion in Lompoc, California.
Olasoji Akinbode, arrested in Kearny, New Jersey, was listed for fraud and impersonation, while Oluwatosin Afolabi, arrested in Conroe, Texas, was listed for fraud.
Michael Orji, arrested in Oxford, Wisconsin, had the broadest range of offences attached to his name. DHS listed weapons violation, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering against him.
Beyond financial crimes, DHS listed Olusegun Olaseni, arrested in Greencastle, Indiana, for the sale of amphetamine.
Alameen Adetunji Tokosi, arrested in Chicago, Illinois, was listed for drug possession, while Ahmadu Apooyin, arrested in Baltimore, Maryland, was associated with a drug-related offence.
Onomen Uduebor, arrested in Seattle, Washington, was listed for identity theft, while Daniel Eta, arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania, was listed for wire fraud.
Ifeanyi Ibennah, arrested in Tampa, Florida, was listed for cruelty towards a child, while Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi, arrested in Alden, New York, was listed for assault.
Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo, arrested in Orlando, Florida, was listed for larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property.
The 24 Nigerians and the offences and arrest locations published by DHS are:
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.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has placed immigration enforcement at the centre of his domestic agenda, directing federal agencies to intensify arrests, detention and removal operations.
ICE, an agency under DHS, is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws within the United States, including identifying, arresting and removing foreign nationals subject to deportation.
The administration has particularly emphasised enforcement against non-citizens with criminal records, presenting such arrests as evidence that its immigration policy is focused on public safety.
The publication of photographs and identities under the “Worst of the Worst” campaign has become part of that strategy, with DHS publicly showcasing foreign nationals apprehended during ICE operations.
