The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration authorities over alleged criminal offences as the Donald Trump administration intensifies its deportation campaign.
Gatekeepers News reports that the individuals were arrested by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in different locations across the country. The offences listed by the department include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations and cruelty towards a child.
In a statement announcing the arrests, DHS said it was highlighting non-US citizens with criminal records who had been apprehended 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),” the department said.
It added that the administration was carrying out mass deportations, beginning with individuals it considers priorities for immigration enforcement.
Among those named are Emmanuel Omowaiye, arrested in Richmond, Texas, over alleged mail fraud; Laurene Onwuka, arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, over fraud and impersonation; and Olusegun Shonekan, arrested in Newark, New Jersey, over wire fraud.
Others include Peter Ude, arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, over wire fraud; Newton Jemide, arrested in Fort Dix, New Jersey, over wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud; and Shedrack Umukoro, arrested in Yazoo City, Mississippi, over money laundering.
The remaining individuals identified by DHS are Olusegun Olaseni, Olasoji Akinbode, Oluwatosin Afolabi, Alameen Adetunji Tokosi, Joshua Ipoade, Michael Orji, Ahmadu Apooyin, Teslim Kiriji, Onomen Uduebor, Charles Ochi, Daniel Eta, Ifeanyi Ibennah, Kazeem Runsewe, Fatiu Lawal, Justin Akubueze, Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo, Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi and Bright Eigbedion. The department associated them with various alleged offences, including drug-related crimes, identity theft, money laundering, assault, forgery and weapons violations.
The arrests took place across several US states, including Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, Indiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Washington, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Utah and New York.
The announcement forms part of the US government’s wider immigration enforcement campaign, which has prioritised the arrest and removal of non-US citizens identified by authorities as targets for deportation.
