Men of the National Cybercrime Centre, Nigeria Police Force, have arrested two men, Jerry Okoye and Ifeanyi Nwosu, for allegedly participating in computer-related frauds associated with romance scams and identity theft in Abuja.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who made this available to media houses in a statement issued on Thursday, said that evidence of the criminal activities was seen on the suspects’ electronic devices.
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.
“Similarly, Ifeanyi Nwosu, a close associate of Jerry Okoye, who was arrested along with the first suspect, claimed that his visit to the residence was for music recording purposes. However, he admitted to having a unique connection with a 69-year-old white woman known as Winnie, whom he identifies as both a fan and a friend.
“This connection goes beyond casual friendship as evidence indicating a series of cash exchanges between Ifeanyi Nwosu and the elderly woman have come to light,” the Force PRO stated.
The statement urged members of the public to remain vigilant and cautious when interacting with individuals online, especially those they have not met in person.
It called on all Nigerians and residents to actively collaborate with the Force in securing the cyber-space and protecting communities from these menaces.
”Safeguarding Nigeria is a collective responsibility that must not be trivialised”, the statement noted.
