U.S. DHS Lists Invictus Obi, 17 Other Nigerians for Deportation in 2026 ICE “Worst-of-the-Worst” Crackdown

An updated enforcement action by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has placed 18 Nigerians on its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal aliens register, paving the way for their deportation after serious criminal convictions in the United States. The development increases the total number of Nigerians slated for removal in recent operations to 97.

Information obtained by PulseNets from the DHS website shows that the updated list was published on February 9, 2026, barely one week after 79 Nigerians were earlier flagged for deportation. The agency categorised those affected as among the most serious criminal non-citizens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), underscoring its intensified public safety enforcement under ongoing mass deportation priorities.

At the forefront of the newly released list is Obinwanne Okeke, widely known as Invictus Obi, a Nigerian entrepreneur previously convicted in the United States for large-scale cyber fraud. Court records show that Okeke was sentenced in 2021 to 10 years in federal prison for orchestrating an $11 million global business email compromise (BEC) and computer hacking scheme between 2015 and 2019, targeting multiple U.S. companies.

PulseNets learnt that Okeke completed approximately six years of his sentence before being released from the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in late December 2025. His plea agreement reportedly included deportation proceedings upon completion of his prison term, triggering his inclusion in the current DHS removal process.

The additional 17 Nigerians listed in the latest DHS update were convicted of offences including wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and related financial crimes. The full names published in the update include:

• Oluwaseyanu Akinola Afolabi

• Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe

• Benjamin Ifebajo

• Kolawole Aminu

• Oluwadamilola Olufunsho Ojo

• Franklin Ibeabuchi

• Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin

• Joshua Ineh

• Stephen Oseghale

• Eghosa Obaretin

• Adesina Surajudeen Lasisi

• Ibrahim Ijaoba

• Azeez Yinusa

• Charles Akabuogu

• Kelechi Umeh

• Lotenna Chisom Umeadi

• Donald Ehie

• Chukwudi Kingsley Kalu

DHS officials reiterated that the enforcement sweep specifically targets “the worst of the worst criminal aliens”, aligning with broader ICE deportation operations focused on individuals with significant criminal records. While financial crimes dominate the current listings, earlier enforcement batches reportedly included individuals convicted of violent offences.

The latest deportation action has sparked widespread reactions across Nigerian social media platforms. PulseNets reported that public commentary ranges from demands for greater accountability within the Nigerian diaspora community to concerns about the reputational consequences for law-abiding Nigerians residing abroad. Several online users pointed to the high number of fraud-related convictions, while others debated potential diplomatic implications for U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relations.

Also Read: DHS: US Court Denies Bail to Nigerian Woman Convicted of Aiding Yahoo Boys, Orders Continued ICE Detention

As of press time, no formal statement had been issued by Nigeria’s Federal Government or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressing the new deportation wave. PulseNets learnt that deportation flights are expected to be executed in phases, subject to logistical coordination and any pending legal appeals.

The 2026 crackdown forms part of an expanded U.S. immigration enforcement campaign prioritising the removal of non-citizens with criminal convictions under national security and public safety directives. Analysts note that the sustained focus on financial crimes, including business email compromise schemes and identity theft, reflects Washington’s increasing emphasis on combating transnational cyber fraud networks.