By Biodun Busari
Indian authorities have nabbed two Nigerians, Modebe Joseph and Sunday Okonkwo, for being members of an international cybercrime syndicate linked to hacking cooperative banks.
The cybercrime unit of Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissionerate arrested the duo in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, over their connection with a cyber threat actor group known as “Solar Spider.”
According to the Times of India, Joseph, 42, and Okonkwo, 35, worked for the gang targeting financial institutions with weak cybersecurity systems.
The arrests were executed in a joint operation by the Cyber Crime Police Station and other security agencies.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shavya Goyal, said the suspects were part of a wider international cyber network with links to criminal groups operating in Nigeria and South Africa.
“During the weekend of March 7–8, the suspects managed to siphon off around ₹7 crore (approximately N1bn) from the bank. Investigators believe the transaction was deliberately executed over the weekend when the bank was closed, reducing the chances of immediate detection,” Goyal said.
