The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced the detention and impending deportation of a Nigerian national with a violent criminal past. Ibrahim Tunde Ijaoba, identified as a former member of the notorious Bloods street gang, is currently held under a final removal order.
A History of Serious Criminal Offences
In a statement released on Monday, December 29, 2025, ICE detailed Ijaoba's extensive criminal record. The agency described him as a "criminal illegal alien" whose convictions span multiple serious crimes. His offences include aggravated assault on a police officer with a firearm, assault and aggravated assault, armed robbery, obstruction, drug sales, and escaping police custody.
While the exact circumstances of his entry into the United States and the specific date for his deportation flight remain undisclosed, ICE confirmed he remains in custody awaiting removal to Nigeria.
Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement
This case occurs against a backdrop of ongoing debate surrounding U.S. immigration policy. ICE has faced significant criticism in recent years for alleged rights abuses, particularly during the administration of former President Donald Trump, when enforcement actions against undocumented immigrants were intensified.
Analysts view Ijaoba's case as part of a continued effort by U.S. authorities to target foreign nationals with significant criminal histories for deportation. These actions are framed as measures to deter illegal immigration and address crimes associated with undocumented individuals.
Related Cases Involving Nigerian Nationals
In a separate but related development, a U.S. federal court has sentenced another Nigerian man, 37-year-old Adetomiwa Seun Akindele, to nearly six years in prison. Akindele pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded an elderly American woman of $1.6 million.
Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court ordered him to repay the victim and forfeit the stolen amount. Akindele will also be deported to Nigeria after completing his prison sentence.
Furthermore, authorities recently arrested Farouk Adekunle Adepoju, a Nigerian based in the United Kingdom, on a U.S. extradition request. He is accused of masterminding a cybercrime scheme targeting a university in Western Pennsylvania, involving wire fraud and computer fraud.
These cases collectively highlight the international dimension of law enforcement efforts targeting serious crimes, with deportation often serving as a concluding chapter for non-citizen offenders in the United States.
