The Airport Police Command in Lagos says it has arrested a 24-year-old man allegedly linked to a major fraud scheme valued at N48.5 million, about 35,000 dollars, as part of ongoing efforts to keep criminal activities out of Nigeria’s aviation environment.
Police spokesperson, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said operatives of the Command’s Anti-Fraud Unit picked up the suspect, Precious Onudhona, a native of Delta State, on February 2, 2026, at the airport while he was about to board a flight to Asaba.
According to preliminary investigations, the suspect allegedly joined a fraud syndicate in 2023, believed to be involved in romance scams carried out through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Police said he operated with a false identity, posing as “Travis Kevin,” a white American medical doctor, and allegedly created a fake banking platform designed to display fictitious account balances to convince victims to part with money.
Investigators say the suspect allegedly used emotional narratives, including claims of injury and the need for feeding and medical supplies, to solicit funds from victims, with payments reportedly routed through cryptocurrency.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, has ordered a full-scale investigation to ensure all members of the syndicate are tracked and brought to justice, stressing that the airport environment remains a highly sensitive corridor that must not be used for criminal operations.
Police say the suspect will be transferred to the Interpol section for further investigation and prosecution.
Reporting By Nosa Aituamen