The Nigeria Police Force, through the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, has recovered and repatriated $23,000 to a victim in the Cayman Islands who was defrauded through an international online romance scam.
The recovery followed a formal request from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, prompting coordinated cross-border action between Nigerian law enforcement authorities and their international counterparts.
INTERPOL NCB Abuja subsequently launched an intelligence-led investigation, deploying digital forensics and financial tracking tools to trace the fraudulent transaction to Nigeria.
The operation led to the arrest of a Nigerian suspect, Achufusi Obioma Ikenna, who was identified as being directly linked to the online fraud scheme.
Police investigators confirmed that the full amount of $23,000, representing the proceeds of the scam, was successfully recovered during the operation.
The recovered funds were repatriated through established diplomatic and law enforcement channels and handed over to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service for onward restitution to the victim.
Authorities described the development as a significant breakthrough in efforts to combat transnational cybercrime, particularly online romance scams that target victims across borders.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustained international collaboration, noting that partnerships with global law enforcement agencies remain critical to dismantling cyber-enabled fraud networks.
The successful recovery and repatriation underscore Nigeria’s strengthened posture against financial crimes and send a clear signal that perpetrators of international online fraud will be traced, apprehended, and held accountable, regardless of jurisdiction.
