The United States Department of Homeland Security has named 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration authorities over alleged offences ranging from fraud and money laundering to drug-related crimes, assault and identity theft.
The department published their names and photographs on its website, identifying the locations where they were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
The list covers arrests in several states, including Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois and California.
Among those named, Emmanuel Omowaiye was arrested in Richmond, Texas, over alleged mail fraud, while Olusegun Shonekan was arrested in Newark, New Jersey, over alleged wire fraud.
Shedrack Umukoro and Teslim Kiriji were listed as having been arrested in Yazoo City, Mississippi, over alleged money laundering. Michael Orji, arrested in Oxford, Wisconsin, was linked to allegations including identity theft, wire fraud, money laundering and weapons violations.
Other Nigerians on the list include Olusegun Olaseni, arrested in Greencastle, Indiana, over an alleged amphetamine sale; Onomen Uduebor, arrested in Seattle, Washington, over alleged identity theft; and Ifeanyi Ibennah, arrested in Tampa, Florida, over alleged cruelty towards a child.
The department said the publication was intended to highlight non-US citizens with criminal records arrested 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),” it said.
The department added that ICE officers were carrying out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation pledge, starting with people it described as the “worst of the worst”.
The disclosure comes amid the Trump administration’s wider immigration enforcement drive, which has involved arrests of non-US citizens across the country.
However, the DHS publication does not provide the final immigration status of each Nigerian or details of their individual deportation proceedings.
Being named on the list does not, on its own, establish that an individual has been deported or that every alleged offence resulted in a criminal conviction.
FULL LIST
The list released by DHS identifies the Nigerian nationals, the offences associated with their arrests and the locations where they were apprehended.
1. Emmanuel Omowaiye
Offence: Mail fraud
Arrest location: Richmond, Texas
2. Laurene Onwuka
Offences: Fraud and impersonation
Arrest location: Chantilly, Virginia
3. Olusegun Shonekan
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Newark, New Jersey
4. Olusegun Olaseni
Offence: Amphetamine sale
Arrest location: Greencastle, Indiana
5. Peter Ude
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Atlanta, Georgia
6. Newton Jemide
Offences: Wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud
Arrest location: Fort Dix, New Jersey
7. Shedrack Umukoro
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: Yazoo City, Mississippi
8. Olasoji Akinbode
Offences: Fraud and impersonation
Arrest location: Kearny, New Jersey
9. Oluwatosin Afolabi
Offence: Fraud
Arrest location: Conroe, Texas
10. Alameen Adetunji Tokosi
Offence: Drug possession
Arrest location: Chicago, Illinois
11. Joshua Ipoade
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Atlanta, Georgia
12. Michael Orji
Offences: Weapons offence, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering
Arrest location: Oxford, Wisconsin
13. Ahmadu Apooyin
Offence: Drug-related offence
Arrest location: Baltimore, Maryland
14. Teslim Kiriji
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: Yazoo City, Mississippi
15. Onomen Uduebor
Offence: Identity theft
Arrest location: Seattle, Washington
16. Charles Ochi
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: White Deer, Pennsylvania
17. Daniel Eta
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: White Deer, Pennsylvania
18. Ifeanyi Ibennah
Offence: Cruelty towards a child
Arrest location: Tampa, Florida
19. Kazeem Runsewe
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Thomson, Illinois
20. Fatiu Lawal
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Lompoc, California
21. Justin Akubueze
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: Orem, Utah
22. Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo
Offences: Larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property
Arrest location: Orlando, Florida
23. Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi
Offence: Assault
Arrest location: Alden, New York
24. Bright Eigbedion
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: Lompoc, California
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