Police nab mother, daughter in N18m romance scam

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a mother and her daughter over their alleged involvement in a romance scam that reportedly defrauded a Malta-based victim of more than N18 million.

The Acting Police Public Liaison Officer of the NPF-NCCC, DSP Unwana Imah, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the police, the suspects—39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru—were apprehended following investigations into a cyber fraud case involving identity theft and money laundering.

Preliminary findings indicated that a Lagos resident, Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently at large, allegedly collaborated with Rokibat, identified as his stepdaughter, to open and operate multiple bank accounts used to receive fraudulent funds.

Investigators said the illicit proceeds were transferred through money transfer operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts linked to Rokibat. The funds were subsequently moved into an Ecobank account belonging to her mother, Urowhe Diana, where they were allegedly spent.

The police revealed that the case originated from an intelligence report by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, which pointed to suspicious financial activities connected to the suspects.

Further analysis of their digital footprints reportedly led to the arrest of the mother and daughter for their alleged roles in the scheme.

The victim, whose identity was withheld, is said to be based in Malta.

The police added that efforts are ongoing to arrest Amanfo, described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather to Rokibat.

The NPF-NCCC said investigations are still in progress and assured that the suspects would be charged in court upon conclusion of the probe.

It also reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to tackling cybercrime and safeguarding Nigeria’s digital space.

The centre urged the public to report suspicious cyber-related activities through its official channels.