The Airport Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man, Precious Onudhona, over his alleged involvement in a N48.5 million romance and online fraud scheme.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Adeola, said Mr Onudhona was apprehended on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a flight to Asaba, Delta State.
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Police said the arrest followed actionable intelligence gathered by the Anti-Fraud Unit of the Command.
According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect allegedly became involved in fraudulent activities in 2023 after joining a syndicate engaged in romance scams.
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The statement said investigators found that the group targeted victims through social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, using fabricated identities and emotional narratives to build trust before soliciting funds.
Mr Onudhona allegedly posed as “Travis Kevin,” claiming to be a white American medical doctor. Police further alleged that he created a fake banking domain that displayed fictitious account balances to convince victims of his financial credibility.
The suspect was said to have requested money under the pretext of needing funds for feeding and medical supplies after purportedly sustaining injuries in the line of duty. The funds were reportedly received through cryptocurrency channels, with promises of repayment within a short period.
Police estimated the total value of the alleged fraud at N48.5 million, approximately $35,000.
Major crackdown
The arrest comes amid enforcement actions against online and romance-related fraud in Nigeria and beyond.
In January, airport authorities arrested another suspect over an alleged N1 billion international romance scam targeting victims in the United States.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in December 2024 detained hundreds of suspects in Lagos during a large-scale raid on an alleged crypto-romance fraud network.
INTERPOL has also reported coordinated operations across multiple countries aimed at dismantling transnational romance scam syndicates, reflecting the global scale of such schemes.
The police noted in Tuesday’s statement that the Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, Olufunke Ogunbode, has directed a comprehensive investigation into the case and ordered efforts to identify and apprehend other members of the alleged syndicate.
She reaffirmed the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against criminal activities within the aviation environment, describing airports as sensitive corridors that must not be exploited for unlawful purposes.
The suspect will be transferred to the Interpol section for further investigation and possible prosecution, police said.
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