The National Cybercrime Centre of the Police Force headquarters announced on Wednesday night that they have apprehended two notorious suspects involved in cybercrimes, such as Romance Scams, Identity theft, and Criminal Conspiracy.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that the arrest was made in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure a safer cyberspace for Nigerians.

The suspects, Jerry Okoye and Ifeanyi Nwosu, both residents of Panasonic Estate in Idu, Abuja, have admitted to their involvement in computer-related frauds linked to 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,” Adejobi said

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of citizens by relentlessly combating criminal activities such as identity theft, romance scams, sextortion, and other cyber-related crimes. 

They urged the public to remain vigilant when interacting with individuals online and called for active collaboration from all Nigerians and residents in securing our cyberspace and protecting our communities from these threats.

The Force PRO also emphasized that safeguarding Nigeria is a collective responsibility that must not be trivialized and assured that efforts are underway to apprehend others who are on the Police radar.