Police Bust Trans-Border Kidnapping Syndicate, Rescue Victims, Arrest Suspects in P’Harcourt
In a major breakthrough in the fight against transnational crime, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismantled a notorious kidnapping syndicate operating across Nigeria and Ghana, and successfully rescued two Ghanaian women who were abducted as part of a cross-border romance scam.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a press statement on Friday evening in Abuja. He said the operation was carried out by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the NPF following a report made to the National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, on April 27, 2025, regarding the abduction of one Anastasia Arthur, also known as Baidoo, a 48-year-old Ghanaian national.
Investigations revealed that Ms. Arthur was lured into a fake Facebook relationship, which led to her kidnap. The IRT operatives, working in close collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, uncovered a criminal ring operating in both countries.
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A major breakthrough came with the arrest of 27-year-old Emeka Christian, a Nigerian residing in Bolgatanga, Ghana. He confessed to receiving GH₵10,000 in ransom through a Ghanaian mobile money account, which he subsequently transferred to a Nigerian bank account owned by one Peter Okoye.
On May 1, 2025, around 1:22 PM, the IRT tracked and arrested Peter Okoye in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, along with two accomplices—Paulinus Chidokwe and Chinonso Okafor, both aged 35. During the raid, two victims, Ms. Arthur and another Ghanaian woman, Amaseerwaa Konadu, were rescued. Authorities said the victims had been held under dehumanizing conditions and are currently receiving medical care.
The suspects are undergoing further investigation and will be charged in court upon conclusion of inquiries.
Commending the operatives for their swift and coordinated action, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reiterated the Force’s unwavering commitment to combating transnational crimes and enhancing cooperation with international law enforcement bodies.
The Police also urged the public to remain vigilant against online romance scams and to report any suspicious activity through its official social media channels or at the nearest police station.
By PRNigeria
