Airport police in Nigeria have arrested a 24-year-old man suspected of involvement in an online fraud scheme worth millions of naira, as part of efforts to prevent criminal activity within the aviation sector.
Officers from the Airport Police Command’s Anti-Fraud Unit said the suspect was detained on 2 February while attempting to board a flight to Asaba, in Delta State.
Police said the alleged fraud is valued at 48.5 million naira, equivalent to about £28,000.
The suspect, identified as Precious Onudhona, is believed to have joined an organised fraud network in 2023 that targeted victims through social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
Investigators said the group allegedly carried out romance-related scams, using false identities to deceive victims. Mr Onudhona is accused of posing online as a white American medical doctor and of creating a fake banking website showing non-existent account balances.
Police said the suspect allegedly persuaded victims to send money, claiming it was needed for food and medical supplies after he was supposedly injured while working. The funds were reportedly transferred using cryptocurrency.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Airport Police Command, Ogunbode Olufunke, has ordered a full investigation and instructed officers to identify and arrest other members of the alleged syndicate.
She said the police would maintain a zero-tolerance approach to crime within airports, describing the aviation environment as a sensitive area requiring heightened security.
The suspect is expected to be transferred to the Interpol unit for further investigation and possible prosecution.
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