Police detectives attached to the National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a woman and her daughter over an alleged online romance fraud that reportedly swindled a Malta-based victim of more than N18 million.
The suspects, identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, were apprehended following an investigation into alleged cyber fraud, identity theft and money laundering.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Liaison Officer, Uwana Imah, the probe began after intelligence was received from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Police investigators alleged that Emmanuel Amanfo, a Lagos resident who remains on the run, worked with Rokibat Imoru to create and manage several bank accounts allegedly used to receive fraudulent payments.
“One of the victims was identified as a resident of Malta whose identity has been withheld,” the statement said.
The police explained that money linked to the alleged scam was routed through money transfer services and paid into different Nigerian bank accounts operated by Rokibat.
Authorities further claimed that some of the funds were later transferred into an Ecobank account belonging to her mother, Urowhe Diana, where the proceeds were allegedly spent.
Investigators said digital forensic findings connected both suspects to the alleged romance fraud scheme, leading to their arrest.
Police also confirmed that efforts were ongoing to track down Amanfo, who was described as Diana’s husband and Rokibat’s stepfather.
“Investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to tackling cybercrime and safeguarding the country’s digital space.
The National Cybercrime Centre also urged Nigerians to report suspicious online activities through its official reporting channels.
