The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a mother and her daughter for their alleged involvement in a romance scam that defrauded a Malta-based victim of over ₦18 million. The suspects are 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.
Police investigators stated that the case involves computer-related fraud, identity theft, and money laundering, following intelligence from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). Preliminary investigations revealed that a Lagos resident, Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently on the run, allegedly collaborated with his stepdaughter, Rokibat, to open and operate several bank accounts used for fraudulent transactions.
According to the police, Rokibat received fraudulent funds into her accounts before transferring them to her mother, Urowhe, who then spent the money. The victim, a resident of Malta, sent funds through Money Transfer Operators and direct deposits into multiple Nigerian bank accounts owned by Rokibat. The funds were later transferred to an Ecobank account belonging to Urowhe Diana.
Forensic analysis of the suspects' digital activities and intelligence from the NFIU helped trace the ₦18 million through various bank accounts, leading to the arrests. The police are still searching for Emmanuel Amanfo, described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather of Rokibat.
The NPF-NCCC noted that investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon completion. Romance scams, where fraudsters create fake online relationships to deceive victims into sending money, remain a common form of cybercrime globally. Nigerian authorities have intensified crackdowns on cyber fraud networks to combat financial crimes and improve digital security.
The cybercrime center reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force under Inspector-General Olatunji Rilwan Disu to fighting cybercrime and protecting Nigeria's cyberspace. The police urged Nigerians to report suspicious cyber-related activities through official NPF-NCCC channels.
