By TC News Desk
Agartala, 12th April 2025: The Border Security Force (BSF) has detained a Nigerian national, Francis Odoko (41), under suspicious circumstances at the Belonia Railway Station in Tripura. The arrest occurred after BSF jawans from the 43rd Battalion noticed Odoko loitering suspiciously near the station around 8:30 PM last night. Upon his detention, four mobile phones—three Android and one keypad—were recovered from his possession.
According to sources, the BSF handed Odoko over to the Belonia Police Station, but the case was deemed to fall under the jurisdiction of the Government Railway Police (GRP). Today, the BSF officially transferred Odoko to the custody of the GRP.
In an initial interrogation, Odoko revealed that he entered India in 2019 and was involved in cybercrime activities. He stated that in 2021, Chandigarh Police arrested him in connection with a cybercrime case, leading to a three-year imprisonment. After being released in November 2024, he reportedly moved between cities like Delhi and others before arriving in Tripura.
Odoko explained that his wife and child currently reside in Nigeria, and he was planning to return to his homeland. Acting on a Nigerian friend’s advice, he intended to cross into Bangladesh via Belonia and travel back to Nigeria. His journey brought him to Belonia Railway Station after traveling by train from Delhi to Agartala.
Mrinal Kanti Bhowmik, Officer-in-Charge of the GRP station, stated, “We have registered a case against the Nigerian national under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Passport Act. He was produced before the Belonia Court today.”
The arrest of an international cybercriminal in a sensitive border region like Belonia has created a stir in the area. The case now awaits legal proceedings to determine the next course of action.
