Two suspects Jerry Okoye and Ifeanyi Nwosu, has been arrested by the National Cybercrime Centre, Nigeria Police Force, over a romance scam in Abuja.
The duo were accused of criminal conspiracy and identity theft.
This was made available by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday, who stated that evidence of the criminal activities was seen on the suspects’ electronic devices.
In the statement, Adejobi noted that the NPF will not relent in its “commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens by relentlessly cracking down on criminal activities such as identity theft, romance scams, sextortion and other cyber-related crimes.”
The statement read in parts, “These suspects, namely Jerry Okoye and Ifeanyi Nwosu, both residents of Panasonic Estate in Idu, Abuja, have confessed to their participation in computer-related frauds associated with romance scams and identity theft. Substantial evidence from their electronic devices has shed light on their criminal activities.
“Jerry Okoye, a former student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), claimed to have been in the music industry since 2016 and operates a public relations company. However, he confessed to engaging in fraudulent activities dating back to 2014, primarily through Facebook. The investigation also uncovered compelling evidence, linking him to fraud and romance scams, extending up to the present day.”
It added, “We call upon all Nigerians and residents to actively collaborate with the Force in securing our cyber-space and protecting our communities from these menaces. Safeguarding Nigeria is a collective responsibility that must not be trivialised.”
