BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Nigeria’s Airport Police Command has foiled a major fraud attempt, arresting a 24-year-old man accused of orchestrating a N48.5 million romance scam and attempting to flee the city by air.
The suspect, Precious Onudhona ‘M’, a native of Delta State, was intercepted on February 2, 2026, at an airport terminal while preparing to board a flight to Asaba.
His arrest followed what police described as “actionable intelligence,” highlighting intensified surveillance aimed at keeping criminal networks out of the aviation space.
Investigators say the arrest capped months of covert tracking that linked the suspect to a syndicate operating online romance scams since 2023.
According to preliminary findings, the group allegedly preyed on unsuspecting victims through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, deploying fake profiles and emotionally manipulative narratives to extract money.
Police allege that Onudhona operated under the alias “Travis Kevin,” posing as a white American medical doctor.
Using this identity, he reportedly created a fake banking domain designed to show fictitious account balances, a tactic meant to convince victims of his credibility.
He allegedly persuaded targets to send money with assurances of quick repayment, claiming the funds were needed for feeding and medical supplies after he sustained injuries “in the line of duty.” Investigators said the funds were transferred via cryptocurrency channels.
The Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, Mnips, PhD, has ordered a “thorough and comprehensive investigation” to ensure the suspect is prosecuted and other members of the syndicate are tracked down.
She reiterated the Command’s “zero-tolerance stance” on crime within the aviation sector, describing airports as a “highly sensitive corridor” that must not be exploited for unlawful activities.
Police said the suspect will be handed over to the Interpol section for continued investigation and prosecution, as authorities widen the net to dismantle the broader fraud network behind the scam.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
