Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) have arrested a mother and her daughter over their alleged involvement in a multimillion-naira romance scam that reportedly defrauded a victim based in Malta of approximately N18 million.
The suspects, identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, were apprehended following investigations into allegations bordering on computer-related fraud, identity theft, cyber-enabled financial crimes, and money laundering.
The arrest was disclosed in a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Liaison Officer, DSP Uwana Imah, who said the investigation was launched after intelligence received from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) exposed suspicious financial transactions allegedly linked to the suspects.
According to the police, investigators uncovered what they described as a coordinated online romance scam syndicate allegedly operated by the suspects and their associates.
Authorities alleged that the suspects used fake online identities and emotional manipulation tactics to deceive unsuspecting foreign victims into sending money under false pretences.
Police sources said the investigation revealed that the syndicate allegedly targeted vulnerable individuals abroad through social media platforms and online dating channels, where they cultivated emotional relationships with victims over extended periods before demanding financial assistance.
The police stated that one of the identified victims was a resident of Malta whose identity was withheld for security and privacy reasons.
According to investigators, the victim allegedly transferred large sums of money after being deceived into believing they were involved in a genuine romantic relationship with one of the suspects or their accomplices.
The police further disclosed that preliminary findings linked a Lagos-based suspect identified as Emmanuel Amanfo, currently on the run, to the operation.
Investigators alleged that Amanfo conspired with Rokibat Imoru to open and manage several bank accounts allegedly used to receive fraudulent proceeds from foreign victims.
The police claimed that the bank accounts were strategically created and operated to conceal the source and movement of the funds while making detection by authorities more difficult.
According to the statement, money obtained from the alleged scam was reportedly transferred into Nigeria through money transfer operators and direct bank deposits.
Investigators said the funds were subsequently routed through multiple Nigerian bank accounts allegedly controlled by Rokibat before being transferred into an Ecobank account belonging to her mother, Urowhe Diana.
The police alleged that proceeds from the operation were eventually withdrawn and spent by the suspects for personal use.
Authorities also disclosed that forensic examinations carried out on the suspects’ digital devices and online activities reportedly established direct links between the mother and daughter and the alleged romance fraud scheme.
Investigators reportedly recovered digital evidence believed to contain records of online communications, financial transactions, fake identities, and other materials relevant to the ongoing case.
The police described the operation as part of ongoing efforts by the National Cybercrime Centre to combat cyber-enabled fraud, financial crimes, and transnational internet scams linked to criminal syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria.
DSP Uwana Imah stated that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Emmanuel Amanfo, who was identified as the husband of Urowhe Diana and the stepfather of Rokibat Imoru.
He noted that security agencies had intensified investigations to uncover other possible members of the syndicate and determine the full scope of the alleged fraud operation.
“Investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the police statement added.
The latest arrests come amid rising concerns over the increasing sophistication of online romance scams allegedly perpetrated by fraud networks targeting victims across Europe, North America, Asia, and other parts of the world.
Security experts say romance scams have become one of the fastest-growing forms of cybercrime globally, with fraudsters often using fake identities, emotional attachments, and fabricated emergencies to manipulate victims into transferring money.
In many cases, victims are persuaded to support supposed business investments, medical emergencies, travel expenses, or cryptocurrency transactions before discovering they have been deceived.
Nigerian authorities have repeatedly warned citizens against participating in cybercrime activities, stressing that such offences damage the country’s international reputation and expose perpetrators to severe criminal penalties.
The Nigeria Police Force has also continued to collaborate with international law enforcement agencies and financial intelligence organisations to track cross-border cybercrime syndicates and recover stolen funds.
Recently, the NPF-NCCC launched another high-profile investigation involving a Nigerian suspect, Olanrewaju Egbedeyi, who was accused of allegedly defrauding a German national, Goksel Toprak, of more than €100,000 between 2020 and 2025 through a suspected online romance scam.
Authorities say the increasing number of international fraud cases highlights the urgent need for stronger digital security awareness, stricter financial monitoring, and enhanced cybercrime enforcement mechanisms.
The police urged members of the public, particularly internet users engaging in online relationships, to exercise caution and avoid sending money to individuals they have not physically verified.
The force also encouraged victims of online fraud to promptly report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies for investigation and possible recovery efforts.
As investigations continue, the suspects remain in police custody pending further legal proceedings.
