Police Arrest Mother, Daughter Over Alleged N18m Romance Scam Targeting Malta Victim

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre have arrested a woman and her daughter over an alleged romance scam that reportedly swindled a foreign victim of more than N18 million.

The suspects, identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, were arrested following an intelligence-led investigation into allegations of cyber fraud, identity theft and money laundering.

Authorities said the case came to light after intelligence reports from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit linked the suspects to suspicious financial transactions connected to an international romance scam operation.

In a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Uwana Imah, investigators revealed that a Lagos-based suspect identified as Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently on the run, allegedly worked with Rokibat to open and manage several bank accounts used for fraudulent activities.

Police disclosed that one of the victims, said to be based in Malta, was allegedly deceived through an online relationship scheme before funds running into millions of naira were transferred into Nigerian accounts.

According to investigators, the money was reportedly routed through money transfer services and direct deposits into accounts belonging to Rokibat before being moved into an Ecobank account allegedly owned by her mother, Urowhe Diana.

The police further claimed that digital forensic investigations linked both suspects to the cybercrime network, leading to their arrest by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.

Authorities also confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down Emmanuel Amanfo, described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and the stepfather of Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

“Investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the police statement noted.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed the commitment of Olatunji Rilwan Disu to strengthening cybercrime enforcement and protecting Nigeria’s digital space from fraud-related crimes.

Police also urged Nigerians and foreign nationals to remain cautious while engaging in online relationships and to report suspicious cyber-related activities through official reporting channels.