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Nigerian Man Arrested Over Alleged $10m COVID-19 Aid Fraud In US—-A Nigerian national, Yomi Olayeye, has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a $10 million COVID-19 unemployment assistance fraud scheme in the United States.

Olayeye, also known as “Sabbie,” was taken into custody on August 13, 2024, upon his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, under the Department of Justice, announced that Olayeye, 40, is facing charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

According to a statement released by the office, Olayeye and his co-conspirators are accused of fraudulently obtaining at least $10 million in unemployment benefits intended for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scheme allegedly involved using stolen personal information to file for unemployment benefits across several states, including Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Indiana. The fraudulent claims targeted three pandemic assistance programs: traditional unemployment insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).

Olayeye and his co-conspirators reportedly applied for at least $10 million in fraudulent benefits across multiple states and successfully received over $1.5 million. The indictment claims that they used stolen personally identifiable information (PII) purchased from criminal internet forums to apply for the benefits, posing as eligible residents impacted by the pandemic.

The scheme involved opening U.S. bank and prepaid debit card accounts using the fraudulently obtained PII to receive the benefits. Olayeye and his associates also allegedly recruited U.S.-based account holders to transfer the illicit proceeds via cash transfer applications.

The fraudulent proceeds were then used to purchase Bitcoin through online marketplaces, with efforts made to conceal their connection to Nigeria by using U.S.-based IP addresses.

Olayeye made his initial court appearance on August 14 in the Eastern District of New York and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss, forfeiture, and restitution.

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TikToker Peller Detained by Lagos Police Over Reckless Driving, Suicide Attempt

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Peller Detained by Lagos Police Over Reckless Driving

TikToker Peller Detained by Lagos Police Over Reckless Driving, Suicide Attempt—-The Police Command in Lagos State has detained a 20-year-old social media influencer, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, over reckless driving.

The detention followed a viral video showing his reckless driving and crashing of his vehicle while livestreaming on social media.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed this in a statement to newsmen on Tuesday evening in Lagos.

She said that the incident occurred on Sunday, when a widely circulated video showed the suspect driving dangerously and causing a serious accident that endangered his life and other road users.

Adebisi described the act as a deliberate attempt to commit suicide adding that same constituted a serious threat to public safety.

According to her, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where investigations are ongoing.

The spokesperson said that the outcome of investigations will be made public, adding that the suspect will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the law.

She said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, warns influencers and the public, against promoting reckless or unlawful acts on social media.

The crashed car

“CP Jimoh issued a strong warning to social media influencers, content creators, and members of the public against using social media platforms to promote or engage in reckless, dangerous, or unlawful acts.

“The CP emphasised that such conduct poses serious risks to public peace and safety and warned that the Command would not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against offenders.

“He also urged all road users to strictly comply with traffic regulations as part of efforts to ensure safety on Lagos roads, ” she said.

The image maker said that the command reaffirms its commitment to maintaining public order and protecting lives and property across the state.

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BREAKING: Bandits Storm Kogi ECWA Church, Kidnap Over 20 Worshippers

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Bandits Storm Kogi ECWA Church

BREAKING: Bandits Storm Kogi ECWA Church, Kidnap Over 20 Worshippers—-No fewer than 20 worshippers were abducted on Sunday, December 14, 2025, after gunmen attacked the First ECWA Church in Ayetoro Kiri, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Local sources said the attackers stormed the church while a worship session was ongoing, firing sporadically to create panic among congregants.

Many worshippers reportedly fled the scene, while an undisclosed number were seized by the assailants, who later escaped through nearby bush paths.

The attack threw the otherwise quiet community into chaos, with residents describing widespread fear and confusion as the incident unfolded.

The abduction has heightened concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of Kogi State, where repeated attacks on rural communities and places of worship have left residents increasingly anxious and calling for stronger security measures.

SaharaReporters earlier on Sunday reported that one person, identified only as JayJay, was killed during the attack, while several worshippers were reportedly abducted.

This incident marked the second attack on a church in Okun land within weeks, heightening fears among residents and worshippers across the area.

A recent incident occurred on November 30, 2025, when armed men stormed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, abducting the cleric identified Orlando and about 13 worshippers during a service.

The attackers initially demanded ₦500 million in ransom, later reducing it to ₦200 million, giving the victims’ families a two-day ultimatum and warning of unspecified “consequences” if the demand was not met.

Residents also recalled that the Ayetoro Kiri community came under attack about three weeks ago, when armed assailants targeted a local school.

On that occasion, the community vigilante group reportedly repelled the attackers, preventing casualties and abductions.

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