By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a mother and her daughter for allegedly defrauding a Malta-based victim of more than ₦18 million in a romance scam, while security operatives have launched a manhunt for the alleged mastermind who remains at large.
The arrests were confirmed on Wednesday,27May, 2026, by the NPF-NCCC following a forensic investigation that uncovered a cross-border cyber fraud syndicate operating from Lagos.
Investigators said funds transferred by the victim from Malta were routed through multiple Nigerian bank accounts before ending up in an Ecobank account belonging to one of the suspects.
The suspects were identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.
Police said Rokibat allegedly posed as a romantic partner online and cultivated a relationship with the victim, who believed the interaction was genuine.
As trust grew, the victim reportedly began sending money through Money Transfer Operators and direct bank deposits.
According to investigators, the funds were received through several bank accounts operated by Rokibat in an apparent effort to conceal the transaction trail.
The NPF-NCCC said the money was subsequently transferred into Diana’s Ecobank account, where the proceeds were allegedly spent.
Investigators further identified Emmanuel Amanfo, Diana’s husband and Rokibat’s stepfather, as a key suspect in the operation.
Police alleged that Amanfo conspired with Rokibat to establish and operate the accounts used in receiving the funds before fleeing ahead of the arrests.
“The investigation revealed a coordinated scheme involving multiple accounts used to receive and move funds obtained from the victim,” a police source familiar with the case said.
The cybercrime centre disclosed that its forensic team tracked the suspects through a detailed digital footprint analysis, tracing account activities, transaction records, device usage and money flows linked to the fraud.
The digital trail, investigators said, led directly to both women, culminating in their arrest.
Police estimated that more than ₦18 million, equivalent to about $11,000, was transferred by the victim during the course of the fraudulent relationship.
Confirming the arrests, Acting Police Public Relations Officer of the NPF-NCCC, DSP Unwana Imah, said the suspects were apprehended following extensive forensic investigations.
“The investigation is ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect,” Imah stated.
She added that the suspects would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.
The cybercrime centre described the case as a major breakthrough in the fight against online fraud, noting that the arrests were achieved through digital forensic intelligence rather than routine policing methods.
Police said the victim’s identity has been withheld for security and privacy reasons.
However, investigators noted that the case underscores the emotional and financial toll of romance scams, which continue to target unsuspecting victims across the world through fake online relationships.
The NPF-NCCC urged members of the public to exercise caution when engaging with individuals met online and warned against sending money to persons whose identities cannot be independently verified.
The centre also called on citizens to report suspicious cyber activities through its official reporting channels, stressing that public vigilance remains critical in the fight against cybercrime.
Meanwhile, the manhunt for Amanfo continues as authorities intensify efforts to bring all those connected to the alleged fraud before the law.
