Police Arrest Suspect in Alleged ₦5.7 Million Online Fraud

By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA — The Nigeria Police Force, through its National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF‑NCCC), has detained 27‑year‑old Aliyu Muhammed on allegations of computer‑related fraud, identity theft, obtaining property by false pretence and money laundering.

DSP Unwana Imah, Acting Public Liaison Officer of the NPF‑NCCC, announced the arrest in a statement released on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the suspect was taken into custody after a petition was filed by a university lecturer from Akwa Ibom State, whose identity was not disclosed.

Imah explained that the complainant claimed to have responded to advertisements for household items on a Facebook “declutter” page called “SHOPHOUSEHOLDITEMS” in March 2026.

The suspect allegedly shifted the conversation to WhatsApp, where the victim was persuaded to pay a total of ₦5.7 million for the items.

“The funds were transferred to various Fintech bank accounts and after full payment was made, the goods were not delivered, the victim was blocked, and the fraudulent Facebook page was abandoned,” the statement read.

The police spokesperson said that, upon receiving the petition, NPF‑NCCC operatives used technical resources and collaborated with Meta Inc. to identify the owner of the account linked to the fraudulent page.

She added that the suspect was subsequently located in Katsina State, where he was arrested.

She also noted that the full amount allegedly lost by the victim has been recovered, while the investigation continues.

Inspector‑General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting Nigerians from online fraudsters.

The police urged the public to exercise caution when conducting transactions on social media platforms.

“Members of the public are advised to verify seller credentials and avoid making significant payments to unverified accounts before seeing what they are purchasing,” the statement added.

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