US Adds 10 Nigerians to ‘Worst of the Worst’ Criminal Immigrants List
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has added 10 Nigerians to its “Worst of the Worst” register, a database used by the U.S. government to highlight immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in connection with criminal cases.
The latest additions include Nigerians associated with allegations involving wire fraud, identity theft, drug offences, child-related offences, weapons possession, aggravated assault, larceny and conspiracy.
The names were published on Friday, August 28, 2026, as the administration of President Donald Trump continues its intensified immigration enforcement campaign.
Who are the 10 Nigerians on the list?
According to information published alongside the DHS register, the 10 Nigerians are:
| Name | Location | Offence listed |
|---|---|---|
| Temitope Bashua | Allenwood, Pennsylvania | Wire fraud, identity theft and fraud |
| Ojehoro Lewis | Conroe, Texas | Cruelty toward a child |
| Osemudiamen Kingsley Oziegbe | Louisville, Kentucky | Wire fraud |
| Daniel Oworen | Conroe, Texas | Dangerous drugs |
| Raymond H. Ekevwo | Oxford, Wisconsin | Wire fraud |
| Franklin Dikeocha | Dallas, Texas | Sex offence against a child – fondling |
| Johnson Ogunlana | White Deer, Pennsylvania | Fraud and identity theft |
| Chukwuemeka Okorocha | Allenwood, Pennsylvania | Wire fraud, dangerous drugs, weapon possession and aggravated assault |
| Tunde Korede | Allenwood, Pennsylvania | Conspiracy |
| Chukwuemeka Chinye | Pollock, Louisiana | Larceny, fraud, identity theft and conspiracy |
The details were reported by multiple Nigerian news organisations following publication of the updated DHS register.
Fraud cases make up a significant portion of the list
Several of the newly listed Nigerians are associated with financial crimes.
Temitope Bashua is listed in connection with wire fraud, identity theft and fraud, while Osemudiamen Kingsley Oziegbe and Raymond H. Ekevwo are each listed for wire-fraud-related offences.
Johnson Ogunlana is listed for fraud and identity theft, while Chukwuemeka Chinye is associated with allegations including larceny from a banking-type institution, fraud, identity theft and conspiracy.
The inclusion of several fraud-related cases highlights the range of offences appearing on the DHS register, which is not limited to violent crimes.
Other cases involve drugs, weapons and child-related offences
The latest update also includes more serious allegations involving children, drugs and weapons.
Ojehoro Lewis is listed in connection with cruelty toward a child, while Franklin Dikeocha is listed for a sex offence involving a child.
Daniel Oworen is associated with a dangerous-drugs offence.
Chukwuemeka Okorocha has several offences listed against his case, including wire fraud, dangerous drugs, possession of a weapon and aggravated assault involving a non-family gun.
These cases represent some of the most serious categories appearing in the latest Nigerian additions.
What is the “Worst of the Worst” list?
The DHS website describes the initiative as a way of highlighting what it calls the “worst of worst criminal aliens” arrested by ICE.
The register forms part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, which places significant emphasis on identifying and removing immigrants the government considers criminal offenders.
DHS has said its enforcement campaign is focused on people it describes as criminal illegal immigrants, particularly individuals accused of serious offences.
The department has publicly framed the initiative as part of its effort to fulfil President Trump’s mass-deportation agenda.
The latest list follows 124 Nigerians previously identified
The new publication is not the first time Nigerians have appeared prominently on the DHS register.
In July, DHS published a separate list containing 124 Nigerians who had been arrested by ICE and identified on the same “Worst of the Worst” register.
The addition of another 10 Nigerians therefore brings renewed attention to the immigration enforcement pressure facing Nigerian nationals in the United States.
The development comes amid a broader expansion of U.S. immigration enforcement.
DHS has continued publishing updates highlighting arrests of people it describes as serious criminal offenders, while ICE has continued carrying out immigration arrests and removals across the country.
Being on the list does not necessarily mean the person has already been deported
One important distinction is necessary.
Although several reports have described the Nigerians as people “to be deported,” the publication of a person’s name on the DHS register does not by itself establish that the individual has already been deported or provide a specific deportation date.
The latest information identifies the individuals as people arrested by ICE and lists the offences associated with their cases. Reports on the new update said DHS did not provide specific removal dates for the 10 Nigerians.
That distinction matters because an ICE arrest, immigration detention, criminal charge or conviction and a completed deportation are not necessarily the same legal event.
Why the development matters to Nigerians in the US
The latest announcement is likely to attract significant attention among Nigerian communities in the United States.
Nigeria has one of Africa’s largest diaspora populations in the U.S., with Nigerians working across technology, healthcare, education, finance, business and other sectors.
The DHS campaign does not mean Nigerian immigrants generally are being targeted because of their nationality. The individuals in this particular update were identified in connection with specific criminal cases.
However, the publication of names and photographs as part of a high-profile federal enforcement campaign demonstrates the seriousness with which the current U.S. administration is pursuing its immigration agenda.
Immigrants facing criminal proceedings or immigration violations may therefore face increased scrutiny as federal enforcement operations expand.
Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement
The latest Nigerian additions come against the backdrop of a much broader immigration crackdown under President Trump.
DHS has repeatedly said the administration intends to prioritise the removal of immigrants it considers dangerous or criminal.
The department’s messaging has emphasised ICE arrests involving people accused of crimes ranging from violent offences to drug trafficking and crimes against children.
The administration has also faced criticism over the scope of its immigration enforcement policies. Critics have argued that the government’s “worst of the worst” messaging does not fully capture everyone affected by the broader deportation campaign. Recent reporting has pointed to cases involving people with no criminal record, asylum seekers and individuals with legal status who have nevertheless faced immigration detention or enforcement.
What happens next?
For the 10 Nigerians newly identified, their individual immigration and criminal cases will determine what happens next.
Being included in the DHS database does not provide enough information to establish the precise status of each case, including whether an individual has a final removal order, is contesting an immigration decision, remains in criminal custody or has already been transferred into immigration detention.
The U.S. immigration process can involve criminal proceedings, immigration hearings, detention, appeals and removal proceedings, depending on the circumstances of each case.
Consequently, the new list should be understood primarily as a DHS/ICE enforcement publication, rather than a confirmation that all 10 Nigerians have already been deported.
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