Kenya police have arrested three Nigerian nationals for alleged cyber fraud and violations of immigration law, following a tip-off from members of the public about suspicious activity in a rented apartment in Mwea, Kirinyaga County.
The suspects—Peter Chukwujekwu, Alazor Chukulute Sunday, and Nnalue Chiagozie Samwel—were apprehended on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, during a joint operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and immigration officers in Mwaliko Estate, Ngurubani town.
“A well-coordinated multi-agency raid in Mwaliko Estate has blown the lid off a suspected cyber fraud ring operated by three Nigerian nationals,” media platform, Streamline, quoted the DCI as saying.
“The suspects were flushed out after alert members of the public raised an alarm over suspicious movements and late-night activities inside a rented apartment.”
Investigators recovered a substantial cache of electronic equipment believed to be linked to the operation. This, according to Streamline, included 21 mobile phones, 79 SIM cards, a Dell laptop, and numerous credit cards issued by various banks.
The items, according to authorities, indicate a “well-oiled fraud network” that may have been engaged in a range of illicit activities, including identity theft and financial scams.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the trio were residing in Kenya illegally, with expired entry passes and no valid work permits. They claimed to be “running an online business,” but authorities are now probing potential links to cross-border cybercrime syndicates.
“Investigations have since revealed that the trio, who claim to be “running an online business,” are in the country illegally, their entry passes long expired, with no valid work permits.
“The three are currently cooling their heels in custody as investigators dig deeper into their network, tracing possible links to cross-border cybercrime syndicates,” Streamline addec.
The suspects are currently in police custody as detectives analyse the seized devices and trace possible connections to wider networks both within Kenya and internationally.
The Nigerians’ arrest underscores Kenya’s ongoing struggle against cybercrime. Reports from the Communications Authority of Kenya indicate that the country recorded 2.54 billion cyber threat incidents between January and March 2025, a 201.7 per cent increase from the final quarter of 2024.
Surveys also reveal that the majority of Kenyans have experienced online fraud, particularly through phishing emails and fraudulent text messages, with victims losing substantial sums.
In response, Kenya has reinforced its legal framework. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018, and its October 2025 amendment, provide for stringent penalties, including fines up to KSh 20 million and imprisonment of up to ten years for offences such as cyber harassment and unauthorized access.
