Police, FBI, US Secret Service Nab Alleged ‘RaccoonO365’ Phishing Kingpin, Two Others in Nigeria

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC), in collaboration with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Secret Service, have arrested three suspected high-profile internet fraudsters in Lagos and Edo states over alleged cyber fraud.

The suspects were accused of carrying out targeted cyber-attacks on the email systems of major corporate organisations, largely within Nigeria.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, explaining that the suspects executed the attacks through phishing links and the deployment of malicious software.

According to the statement, the arrests followed credible and actionable intelligence received from Microsoft Corporation and the FBI, which exposed the use of a sophisticated phishing toolkit known as RaccoonO365.

Hundeyin said the toolkit was designed to create fake Microsoft login portals used to harvest user credentials and gain unauthorised access to email platforms of corporate, financial and educational institutions.

He noted that the NPF–NCCC subsequently launched an intelligence-driven operation in partnership with Microsoft, the FBI and the US Secret Service.

Investigations revealed multiple cases of unauthorised Microsoft 365 account access between January and September 2025, traced to phishing emails crafted to closely resemble genuine Microsoft authentication pages. The attacks reportedly resulted in business email compromise, data breaches and financial losses across several jurisdictions.

Acting on precise intelligence, NPF–NCCC operatives were deployed to Lagos and Edo states, where three suspects were arrested. Searches conducted at their residences led to the recovery of laptops, mobile phones and other digital devices, which forensic analysis linked to the fraud scheme.

Further investigations identified Okitipi Samuel, also known as “RaccoonO365” and “Moses Felix,” as the principal suspect and developer of the phishing infrastructure. Police said he operated a Telegram channel where phishing links were sold for cryptocurrency and hosted fake login portals on Cloudflare using stolen or fraudulently obtained email credentials.

However, investigators said there was no evidence linking the two other suspects to the creation or operation of the phishing toolkit.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country’s digital space through advanced technology, strong international partnerships, and thorough investigative and prosecutorial processes to combat emerging cyber threats.

The people of the Ogbia Kingdom, including the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, have assured support for President Bola Tinubu and appealed for the establishment of a Petroleum Institute in Oloibiri, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

They started their position during a courtesy visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Ogbia delegation, led by the monarch of Ogbia Kingdom, King Charles Owaba, and other distinguished sons of the kingdom, conveyed appreciation to Mr President for the confidence reposed in our sons and daughters through key national appointments, including the appointment of the NDDC Managing Director.

The royal father noted that the gesture underscored Mr President’s commitment to inclusive leadership and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

The delegation also formally presented priority developmental needs of Ogbia Kingdom; notably the Akaba–Okodi Road, the construction of strategic bridges, shoreline protection for erosion-impacted communities, and the establishment of a petroleum-related institute in Oloibiri, Nigeria’s historic birthplace of the oil industry.

Speaking on the visit, the NDDC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ogbuku, expressed appreciation for Mr President’s commendation of the efforts of the NDDC Board and Management. He said: “His words of encouragement further energises our resolve to sustain people-centred, impactful development across the Niger Delta region.”

“Beyond appreciation, the visit reaffirmed the strong bond between Ogbia Kingdom and the Federal Government, as our people expressed firm support for President Tinubu’s leadership and vision for a progressive Nigeria.”

“Through unity, collaboration and purposeful governance, we remain committed to advancing the aspirations of our people and contributing meaningfully to national development.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has been nominated for the Public Servant of the Year Award for his commitment to bringing peace and development to the Niger Delta.

This was made known during a courtesy visit by the New Telegraph team to the NDDC Chief Executive Officer at the Commission’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt.

In a statement signed and issued by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Ogbuku in accepting the nomination, noted, “We accept the award, and we say thank you for this recognition. This is not the first award we are receiving, as we have had several awards in areas of revolutionising and transforming the Niger Delta.”

He stated: “The Board and Management of the Commission are driven by the zeal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in developing the Niger Delta. We ensure that whatever we do is in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, ensures that we give periodic reports on our activities coupled with oversight functions of the National Assembly; we have no choice but to succeed. Mr. President has given us all we need to succeed.”

The NDDC Boss also noted areas in which the Commission had excelled, including the Light-Up-the-Niger-Delta Project, the distribution of 45,000 U-Lesson Tablets to schoolchildren in the region, and youth empowerment training.

Ogbuku observed: “We are focused on the next chapter. We are taking roads and water to inaccessible communities in the region. We will soon commence a six-month 1,000-youth training in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Akwa Ibom State; the modalities are currently being worked out.”

He added: “This award is not just for the NDDC. It flows from the President, to the National Assembly and to our stakeholders. This honour and recognition is a charge to do more. We do not take it for granted.”

In his own remarks, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the New Telegraph newspaper, Mr. Ayodele Aminu, remarked: “We have watched, with keen interest, the activities of the Managing Director of the NDDC since he assumed office. Our Board of Editors and Panel of Judges singled him out as Public Servant of the Year because of his significant strides in accountability, youth empowerment, Light Up the Niger Delta, and region-wide infrastructural development, amongst others.”

He said that the New Telegraph 2025 Awards Ceremony is scheduled to be held on February 13, 2026, in Lagos.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday renewed his resolve to run an open and accountable government, declaring that his administration has maintained clear, verifiable and comprehensive financial records that will soon be made available to the public.

Speaking at the commissioning of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road at Ozochi Playground in Ahoada-East Local Government Area, the governor said transparency and prudent management of public resources remain non-negotiable pillars of his leadership.

Fubara disclosed that his administration left over ₦300 billion in the state’s coffers before the declaration of emergency rule and returned to meet the figure increased to about ₦600 billion, stressing that the records explaining the growth are intact and traceable.

According to him, detailed documentation of revenue inflows, expenditures and ongoing projects has been carefully preserved and will be opened to public scrutiny within the next six months.

“Nobody can take away my sincerity and genuineness,” the governor said. “I am not associated with anything fraudulent. Your money and the records of how it is being spent are intact. We are running a government that is transparent, responsible and focused on delivering real value to the people.”

He said the commissioning of the Obodhi–Ozochi Road underscores his administration’s belief that accountability must translate into visible development, adding that public funds under his watch are being channelled into projects that directly impact the lives of Rivers people.

Fubara described the road as a symbol of trust between government and the people, noting that transparency in governance builds confidence and ensures that development projects are delivered as promised.

Reaffirming his commitment to open governance, the governor assured residents that his administration would continue to manage public resources with integrity, diligence and respect for due process, insisting that accountability is not a slogan but a daily obligation of leadership.

Relief, gratitude and a sense of renewed belonging filled the air in Ozochi Community, Ahoada-East Local Government Area, on Wednesday as Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, commissioned the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road and Bridge, bringing an end to decades of isolation and hardship.

For the people of Ozochi, the road represents more than asphalt and concrete; it is a lifeline that has reconnected them to neighbouring communities, markets and opportunities long denied by the absence of motorable access.

Speaking during the commissioning at Ozochi Playground, Governor Fubara restated his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountable governance, assuring residents that Rivers State’s financial records remain intact, verifiable and will be opened to public scrutiny.

But for the host community, the focus was firmly on what the project has already changed.

“It would take almost a whole day to reach Ozochi,” the community’s traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Prince Ike Ehie, JP, recalled while addressing the gathering. According to him, travellers from Port Harcourt and other parts of the state had to journey to Okogbe in Ahoada-West, ride motorcycles through dilapidated paths to Ozochi Waterside, cross the river by boat and then continue the journey on foot or by bike into the community.

“Today, that suffering is history,” the monarch declared, drawing loud applause from residents.

Governor Fubara said the Obodhi–Ozochi Road was conceived as a strategic intervention to address long-standing development gaps in Ahoada-East and Ahoada-West. Initiated in November 2022 by his predecessor, the project was prioritised and completed by his administration, with the original scope expanded by four kilometres to meet the needs of the people, bringing the total length to 14.2 kilometres.

Describing the road as a transformative project, the governor noted that it has opened up previously inaccessible communities, improved mobility and strengthened economic and social activities in the area.

“This is our way of saying thank you for the support and love you have shown,” Fubara said, acknowledging the contributions of community leaders and stakeholders to his emergence as governor.

In an emotional show of appreciation, the people of Ozochi presented 15 cows to the governor — one for each kilometre of the road — and also gifted him 500 plots of land as a symbol of gratitude and collective ownership of the project.

“What you have demonstrated today is love,” the governor said, assuring the community that their requests, including the proposed extension of the road, would receive positive consideration.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the Obodhi–Ozochi Road and Bridge Project spans 14.2 kilometres with a carriageway width of 7.3 metres, adding that it was executed in line with approved engineering standards.

In his remarks, Chairman of Ahoada-East Local Government Area, Hon. Solomon Abuba Ochoma, described the project as a turning point for Ozochi and surrounding communities, noting that improved access would enhance trade, education, healthcare delivery and overall quality of life.

For the people of Ozochi, the commissioning marked the end of years of isolation and the beginning of a new phase defined by access, inclusion, and the promise of development finally reaching their doorstep.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has congratulated the Head of the South-South Bureau of The Guardian Newspaper, Ann Godwin, on her remarkable achievement of winning two major national honours.

In a congratulatory message, the union applauded Godwin for emerging Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) Female Reporter of the Year and Distinguished Media Organisation Merit Award (DMOMA) Media Personality of the Year, describing the feat as a testament to her exceptional professionalism, dedication and positive impact on society.

The NUJ said the recognition underscores Godwin’s consistency and excellence in journalism, noting that the awards were well deserved.

Godwin clinched the twin honours just four days after receiving the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Reporting Award on behalf of The Guardian South-South Bureau, further cementing her reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading investigative journalists.

She is widely recognised for her data-driven, in-depth and courageous investigative reporting, which has exposed corruption, strengthened accountability in public institutions and, in several instances, prompted government action.

A recipient of several national and international grants, Godwin has collaborated with international media organisations and continues to make a strong mark on the global journalism landscape. In 2022, she emerged first-prize winner of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Award under the ReportWomen Leadership Project.

She has also received the NUJ Award and the Advancing Women in Business Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the media and society.

Through her community-based reporting, Godwin has amplified underreported issues in the Niger Delta, empowered marginalised and vulnerable groups—particularly women and farmers—and supported litigation efforts that have led to landmark court judgments in favour of affected communities.

The NUJ Rivers State Council praised her courage and imagination, describing her as a journalist who made hard choices at critical moments to keep journalism at the forefront of public interest.

“We celebrate your impact and lofty achievements and are proud to have you as a member of the Union,” the statement said.

The union, on behalf of its leadership and members, wished Godwin continued success and many more accomplishments in her journalism career.

The congratulatory message was jointly signed by the Chairman of NUJ Rivers State Council, Comrade Paul Bazia-Nsaneh, and the Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia.