Police Arrest Man for N3.5m Romance Scam in Kano

Abdulwajeed Abdullahi was arrested on August 4, 2026, by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre for allegedly defrauding victims of N3.5 million and $1,500 through online romance scams and sextortion. The arrest followed an investigation initiated by a petition from a female victim dated July 28, 2026, who claimed Abdullahi, using the alias "Captain Junaid," had engaged her in a romantic relationship and subsequently demanded $3,000, threatening to release her intimate materials if she did not comply.

The suspect first contacted the victim on TikTok on June 18, 2026, before moving to WhatsApp. Further investigations revealed additional victims, including one who lost ₦3,500,000 and another who paid $1,500 under a false foreign exchange trading scheme.

Forensic examinations of devices seized from Abdullahi uncovered intimate materials belonging to multiple women and forged documents. Abdullahi confessed to starting his scam activities in January 2026 and admitted to using the identity of a Saudi pilot to create his persona.