- Victims lured to Nigeria with fake marriage proposals via Facebook
- Kidnapped, assaulted, and ransom demanded by a cross-border syndicate
- H₵18,000 paid before rescue; 8 suspects arrested in joint operation
Two Ghanaian women have been rescued after falling victim to a romance scam that led to their kidnapping in Nigeria—a case that has shocked many and prompted joint investigations by security agencies in both Ghana and Nigeria.
The victims, Anastasia Baidoo Arthur and Evelyn Konadu, were tricked into traveling to Nigeria with false promises of marriage from individuals they believed were white foreign suitors. Upon arrival in Port Harcourt on April 22, 2025, they were abducted and subjected to severe abuse.
At a press briefing, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the CID, revealed that the women had been targeted through Facebook by a criminal syndicate posing as foreign men interested in marriage. The suspects behind the operation—Peter Okoye, Paulinus Chidokwe, Chinoso Okafor, and Christian Emeka—are part of a larger romance scam network operating between Ghana and Nigeria. Some had previously worked with QNET in Ghana.
Once kidnapped, the victims were stripped, tied, beaten with machetes, and threatened with death. The captors recorded their torture, circulated the footage on social media, and demanded GH₵500,000 in ransom from each family. At the time of arrest, GH₵18,000 had already been paid through mobile money accounts linked to the suspects.
The successful rescue was made possible through a collaborative effort between Ghana’s National Signals Bureau and the Nigeria Police Force, leading to the arrest of eight suspects across both countries. The Ghana Police are now working to bring both the victims and the suspects back to Ghana for further investigation and prosecution.
Authorities have warned the public to remain cautious of online relationships and report suspicious behavior, emphasizing the need for greater vigilance and international cooperation in combating cyber-enabled crimes.
