By Dennis Okechukwu
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration enforcement officers over alleged criminal offences, as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its crackdown on immigration.
According to information published by the department on Thursday, the individuals were arrested by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at different locations across the country.
The alleged offences associated with their cases include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related offences, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations and cruelty towards a child.
In announcing the arrests, DHS said it was highlighting non-US citizens with criminal records who had been apprehended by immigration enforcement officers.
“The US Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the department said.
It added, “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.”
The department said the announcement formed part of the US government’s broader immigration enforcement campaign, with ICE conducting arrests across the country.
The development comes as the Trump administration pursues its policy of removing non-US citizens identified as priorities under its immigration enforcement programme.
However, the information released by DHS does not provide detailed accounts of the individual cases, the final immigration status of each person or the outcome of any deportation proceedings.
The department also did not publish detailed information about the evidence against each individual or indicate whether any of the allegations had resulted in convictions.
♦️Full list of 24 Nigerians named by DHS
The list published by the department identifies the Nigerian nationals, the offences associated with their cases and the locations where they were arrested.
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.
The DHS announcement did not include further details about the circumstances surrounding each arrest, the evidence supporting the allegations or the status of any ongoing criminal or immigration proceedings.
While the department described the individuals as having criminal records, the information published did not specify the precise legal outcomes of all the cases listed.
The arrests come amid the Trump administration’s broader efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and accelerate the removal of non-US citizens targeted under its deportation programme