Police arrest mother, daughter over alleged ₦18m romance scam, hunt husband
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Jun 2, 2026 06:03
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By Johnson Arua
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a mother and her daughter over their alleged involvement in an ₦18 million romance scam, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the principal suspect who is currently on the run.
The arrests followed an intelligence report received from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), which prompted an investigation into allegations of computer-related fraud, identity theft and money laundering.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Liaison Officer of the NPF-NCCC, DSP Unwana Imah, preliminary investigations revealed that a Lagos resident, Emmanuel Amanfo, who is presently at large, allegedly conspired with his 22-year-old stepdaughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, to open and operate multiple bank accounts used for fraudulent transactions.
The police disclosed that one of the victims of the alleged scam was a resident of Malta whose identity was withheld.
Investigators found that funds were transferred through Money Transfer Operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts reportedly owned by Rokibat Imoru.
The funds were subsequently moved into an Ecobank account belonging to her 39-year-old mother, Urowhe Diana, where the proceeds were allegedly spent.
The NPF-NCCC said forensic analysis of the suspects’ digital activities linked the mother and daughter to the romance scam operation, leading to their arrest.
“Following forensic analysis of the suspects’ digital footprints, the mother and daughter were arrested for their active involvement in a romance scam operation,” the statement said.
The cybercrime centre added that efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest Amanfo, who is the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather of Rokibat Imoru.
Police said investigations were still ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of the probe.
The NPF-NCCC reiterated its commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting Nigeria’s digital space under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The centre also urged members of the public to report suspicious cybercrime-related activities through its official online reporting portal or designated email channels.
