The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested a suspected online romance scammer, Abdulwajeed Abdullahi, over alleged cyber fraud, blackmail and sextortion.
Abdullahi, who allegedly operated online using the pseudonym “Captain Junaid,” was arrested at his residence in Kano State on August 4, 2026, following an investigation into a complaint filed by a female victim.
The Director of the NPF-NCCC, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, disclosed the arrest during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly established contact with a woman on TikTok before moving their conversation to WhatsApp, where he developed a romantic relationship with her.
Investigators said Abdullahi allegedly persuaded the woman to send intimate photographs and videos before demanding $3,000 and threatening to release the materials if she failed to pay.
The investigation reportedly uncovered other alleged victims. One victim was said to have lost N3.5 million, while another woman from Bauchi State allegedly paid $1,500 in connection with a purported foreign-exchange trading arrangement.
Police said forensic examination of devices recovered from Abdullahi allegedly revealed intimate materials belonging to several women.
The examination also reportedly uncovered forged academic certificates and identity cards bearing his photograph but different names.
Investigators further alleged that Abdullahi admitted operating the “Captain Junaid” persona and using photographs and publicly available information belonging to a Saudi pilot to create a false identity.
The police said the investigation remains ongoing, while the suspect is expected to face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The development is part of recent operations by the NPF-NCCC targeting cyber-enabled crimes, including romance fraud, sextortion, identity theft and online financial scams.
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