The Nigeria Police Force, National Cybercrime Centre has arrested two suspected romance scammers in Abuja.
Other charges leveled against the victims were criminal conspiracy and identity theft, which they perpetrated through the cyber space.
Announcing the arrest on Thursday in Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that the Acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G) Mr Kayode Egbetokun had ordered the force to guarantee a safer cyber space to Nigerians.
He noted that the evidence of the criminal activities was traced to the suspects’ electronic devices.
Both suspects’ who are residents of Panasonic Estate in Idu, Abuja confessed to their participation in computer-related frauds associated with romance scams and identity theft.
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.
He confessed to engaging in fraudulent activities since 2014 through the Facebook, just as the investigation also uncovered compelling evidence that linked him to fraud and romance scams till date.
The second suspect, Ifeanyi Nwosu had claimed that his visit to the residence was for music recording purposes.
He later admitted to be involved in cash exchanges with a 69-year-old white woman identified as Winnie, who he described as a fan and a friend.
Adejobi stated that the NPF would not relent in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the citizens by relentlessly cracking down on criminal activities such as identity theft, romance scams, sextortion and other cyber-related crimes.
The Force PRO urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious when interacting with individuals online, especially strange persons.
He pleaded with Nigerians to actively collaborate with the Force in securing the cyber-space and protecting the communities from the menace.
Adejobi disclosed that safeguarding Nigeria is a collective responsibility that must not be trivialised.
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