The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration authorities over alleged offences ranging from fraud and money laundering to drug-related crimes and assault.
The disclosure comes as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its immigration enforcement campaign, with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting operations across different states.
According to information attributed to DHS, the Nigerians were arrested in various locations across the country over offences including wire fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, forgery, weapons violations, drug possession and cruelty towards a child.
In its announcement, the department said it was highlighting non-US citizens arrested by ICE whom it considers priorities under its immigration enforcement programme.
DHS described the individuals as among the “worst of the worst criminal aliens” and said the administration was pursuing mass deportations, beginning with those it considers high-priority cases.
## Full List of 24 Nigerians
The individuals named in the report, alongside the offences attributed to their cases and their reported arrest locations, 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 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.
## Deportation Status Remains Unclear
The publication forms part of the broader immigration enforcement drive under the Trump administration, which has prioritised the arrest and removal of certain non-US citizens.
However, the information contained in the report does not establish that all 24 Nigerians have been deported or indicate when any of them might be removed from the country.
It is also important to distinguish between an arrest, an allegation and a criminal conviction. The publication of a person’s name on an immigration enforcement list does not, by itself, establish that every offence attributed to that individual resulted in a conviction.
The latest disclosure highlights the continuing scrutiny of immigrants facing criminal allegations or immigration enforcement proceedings in the United States.
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