The Airport Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old suspect, Precious Onudhona, over an alleged romance scam involving N48.5 million.

The suspect, a native of Delta State, was arrested on February 2, 2026, while attempting to board a flight from Lagos to Asaba, Delta State, following what the police described as “actionable intelligence.”

Confirming the arrest in a statement on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Anti-Fraud Unit in the course of the command’s sustained efforts to prevent criminal elements from exploiting the aviation environment.

Adeola stated, “The Anti-Fraud Unit of the Airport Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old suspect in connection with a large-scale fraud amounting to N48,500,000, equivalent to approximately $35,000.”

He disclosed that preliminary investigations showed that the suspect became involved in fraudulent activities in 2023 after joining a syndicate that specialised in romance-related scams.

He said, “Investigations revealed that the syndicate targeted unsuspecting victims through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, using false identities and deceptive narratives to defraud them.”

The police spokesperson added that the suspect allegedly posed as “Travis Kevin,” whom he described as “a white American medical doctor,” to gain the trust of his victims.

Adeola said, “The suspect fraudulently created a fake banking domain with fictitious account balances, which he used to solicit funds from victims under the guise of repaying them within a short period.”

He explained that the suspect claimed the funds were required for feeding and medical supplies after allegedly sustaining injuries in the line of duty, noting that the payments were received through cryptocurrency transactions.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, ordered a comprehensive investigation into the case.

Adeola quoted the commissioner as saying, “A thorough and detailed investigation must be conducted to ensure justice is served and that all other members of the fraud syndicate are identified and apprehended.”

She further reaffirmed the command’s stance against criminal activities within airport facilities, stressing that “the aviation environment is a highly sensitive corridor that must not be exploited for unlawful activities.”

The police spokesperson added that the suspect would be transferred to the Interpol Section for further investigation and prosecution.

The arrest comes weeks after the command apprehended another suspected internet fraudster. PUNCH Online reported earlier this month that operatives of the Airport Police Command arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Essien Akpama, for allegedly defrauding foreign victims, mostly in the United States, of about N1.25bn and several high-end electronic gadgets. (The PUNCH)

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