The United States Department of Homeland Security has added 10 Nigerian nationals to its “Worst of the Worst” register, a database highlighting immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement over alleged criminal offences.
The latest update, published on the DHS website, lists Nigerians facing allegations ranging from wire fraud and identity theft to drug offences, weapons-related charges and crimes involving children.
The 10 Nigerians named in the latest update are:
- Temitope Bashua — wire fraud, identity theft and fraud — Allenwood, Pennsylvania.
- Ojehoro Lewis — cruelty toward a child — Conroe, Texas.
- Osemudiamen Kingsley Oziegbe — wire fraud — Louisville, Kentucky.
- Daniel Oworen — dangerous drugs — Conroe, Texas.
- Raymond H. Ekevwo — wire fraud — Oxford, Wisconsin.
- Franklin Dikeocha — sexual offence against a child involving fondling — Dallas, Texas.
- Johnson Ogunlana — fraud and identity theft — White Deer, Pennsylvania.
- Chukwuemeka Okorocha — wire fraud, dangerous drugs, possession of a weapon and aggravated assault involving a non-family gun — Allenwood, Pennsylvania.
- Tunde Korede — conspiracy — Allenwood, Pennsylvania.
- Chukwuemeka Chinye — larceny from a banking-type institution, fraud, larceny, identity theft and conspiracy — Pollock, Louisiana.
The DHS register was established as part of the Trump administration's broader immigration enforcement campaign. The department says it is intended to highlight what it describes as the “worst of the worst” criminal immigrants arrested by ICE.
The latest publication comes after DHS released another list in July containing 124 Nigerians on the same register. The earlier publication included names and photographs of Nigerian nationals held by immigration authorities in connection with various criminal cases.
The 10 Nigerians in the latest update were not included in the July list, bringing the number of Nigerians appearing on the DHS register to 134, according to reports based on the two releases.
However, the latest DHS publication does not provide deportation dates for the 10 individuals. It identifies them as people arrested by ICE and lists the offences associated with their cases. Therefore, being named on the register should not be interpreted as confirmation that any of them has already been deported.
The cases cover several US states, with the largest number of those listed being held in Pennsylvania, while others are located in Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
Financial offences feature prominently in the latest list, with several individuals facing allegations involving wire fraud and identity theft. Other cases involve controlled substances, weapons, assault, conspiracy and offences involving children.
The publication of the names and photographs forms part of the US government's broader effort to publicise immigration enforcement actions involving foreign nationals accused or convicted of criminal offences.
The development comes as the Trump administration continues to intensify its deportation campaign, with ICE targeting undocumented immigrants and other foreign nationals subject to removal proceedings.
For the Nigerians named, however, the allegations remain matters for the relevant legal and immigration processes. The offences listed by DHS should not automatically be treated as convictions unless confirmed by the appropriate courts.
The latest development is likely to attract attention in Nigeria because of the number of Nigerians appearing on the US immigration enforcement register and the serious nature of some of the allegations.
It also follows a broader increase in scrutiny of Nigerian nationals involved in US immigration and criminal proceedings as American authorities continue to implement stricter immigration enforcement measures.
The US authorities have not announced specific dates for the removal of the 10 Nigerians named in the latest update.
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