Crime
Interpol Arrests Wanted Nigerian Over Global Romance Scam in Argentina
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has confirmed the arrest of a Nigerian national, identified as Ikechukwu N., in Argentina for allegedly masterminding multiple international romance scams targeting thousands of women.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a post shared Tuesday on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, INTERPOL said the suspect had been on its wanted list for leading a global cybercrime network that defrauded victims across several countries. The arrest was made by Argentine authorities, marking the country’s first capture of a fugitive listed under both Red Notice and Silver Notice alerts.
“Argentine authorities have captured Nigerian national Ikechukwu N., marking the country’s first arrest of a Red Notice fugitive who was also the subject of an INTERPOL Silver Notice,” the organisation stated.
“The suspect is accused of orchestrating multiple romance scams involving thousands of women and leading an international cybercrime network.”
INTERPOL said the arrest was part of Operation Jackal, a global initiative launched to dismantle West African organised criminal groups involved in online fraud, money laundering, and other financial crimes. The operation was coordinated with the Argentine Federal Police (@PFAOficial), Airport Security Police (@seguridadpsa), and supported by international partners including IFCACC, FIS, and INTERPOL Brazil.
According to the organisation, the Silver Notice pilot project, launched in January 2025, aims to assist member countries in tracing and recovering criminal assets connected to cybercrime and fraud operations.
“This arrest represents another step in global efforts to disrupt the operations of transnational criminal syndicates exploiting online platforms to commit fraud and launder illicit proceeds,” INTERPOL added.
This is not the first major breakthrough under Operation Jackal. In August 2024, INTERPOL reported that Operation Jackal III resulted in the seizure of over $3 million in illegal assets and the freezing of more than 700 bank accounts linked to suspected cybercriminals. The operation targeted groups allegedly connected to the notorious Black Axe criminal network, which has been associated with large-scale internet scams and money laundering rings.
Earlier in August 2025, a Nigerian man was convicted in the United States after pleading guilty to running a romance scam that defrauded victims of more than $405,000, further underscoring the growing reach of these criminal networks.
INTERPOL said these arrests highlight a continuing global crackdown on cyber-enabled financial crimes, especially those operated by syndicates with roots in West Africa. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies worldwide in disrupting criminal networks, recovering stolen funds, and protecting victims of online fraud.
The arrest of Ikechukwu N. is expected to lead to further investigations into the network’s operations, its financial trail, and possible collaborators across multiple countries.
According to Nivo News, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomed 5,000 new members in Abia State on Saturday, following the recent entry of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into the party.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The mass defection was led by Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Accord Party, in his hometown of Umuaku, Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area. Supporters who joined him also left their former political affiliations, including the South East Mandate for Good Governance, to align with the ADC.
Nwankpa explained that his decision to join the ADC was driven by a strong conviction, noting that the party’s manifesto resonates with his political philosophy, emphasizing people-oriented governance, social justice, and sustainable development. He described the ADC as a credible, progressive platform capable of fostering inclusive governance and rebuilding public trust in Nigerian politics.
The Abia State Chairman of the ADC, Don Norman Obinna, formally welcomed Nwankpa and his followers, stating that the country’s political trajectory is increasingly favoring the ADC.
The Abia State Police Command has reported the arrest of 809 suspects and the recovery of 88 firearms in 438 cases across the state from January 2025 to date.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa provided the update on Friday during a briefing at his office, outlining the operational strategies and achievements of the Command during the period under review. He disclosed that 435 rounds of ammunition were recovered from suspected criminals and that over 200 suspects have been successfully prosecuted, with several jailed for various offenses.
The CP further revealed that 33 children who had been kidnapped or trafficked were rescued within and outside the state, with the suspects involved prosecuted and some already imprisoned. “We have sent a lot of people to jail. A clear message has been passed that it is no longer business as usual for criminals in Abia State,” Isa stated.
He highlighted that the state’s crime rate has declined under his leadership, attributing the success to support from Governor Alex Otti, provision of logistics, and collaboration with community stakeholders. Isa also noted that officers encountered non-state actors on several occasions, who were neutralized and disarmed.
The Police Commissioner urged residents to continue providing credible information on suspicious activities to further strengthen the fight against crime. Firearms and other weapons recovered from suspects were displayed at the Police headquarters in Umuahia for the media.
According to Nivo News, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF–NCCC) has arrested high-profile cybercrime suspects linked to a sophisticated Microsoft 365 phishing operation that targeted the email systems of major corporate organisations.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The arrests followed actionable intelligence received from Microsoft Corporation in the United States through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which exposed the deployment of an advanced phishing toolkit known as RaccoonO365. The toolkit was designed to create counterfeit Microsoft login pages capable of harvesting user credentials and unlawfully accessing corporate, financial, and educational email platforms.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the cybercrime centre launched a coordinated, intelligence-led operation in partnership with Microsoft, the FBI, and the United States Secret Service. He explained that investigations traced multiple cases of unauthorised Microsoft 365 account access recorded between January and September 2025 to phishing emails crafted to closely mimic legitimate Microsoft authentication portals.
According to police findings, the cyberattacks resulted in business email compromise, data breaches, and significant financial losses across several jurisdictions. Acting on precise intelligence, NPF–NCCC operatives conducted targeted operations in Lagos and Edo states, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Searches carried out at their residences yielded laptops, mobile phones, and other digital devices, which forensic analysis directly linked to the fraudulent activities.
Further investigations identified Okitipi Samuel, also known by the aliases “RaccoonO365” and “Moses Felix,” as the principal suspect and alleged developer of the phishing infrastructure. Police said he operated a Telegram channel through which phishing links were sold in exchange for cryptocurrency and hosted fake login portals on Cloudflare using stolen or fraudulently obtained email credentials.
The police clarified that there was no evidence connecting the two other arrested individuals to the creation or management of the phishing scheme. The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to protecting the country’s digital environment through the use of advanced technology, enhanced international cooperation, and thorough investigative and prosecutorial processes aimed at combating evolving cyber threats.
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