- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigeria Police Force INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) has repatriated the sum of $23,000 recovered from an international romance scammer to the victim in The Cayman Islands.
This was made known in a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin.
The repatriation, according to Hundeyin, followed a request received from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service seeking assistance of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja to investigate a Nigerian national, Achufusi Obioma Ikenna, who defrauded a resident of the Cayman Islands through an online romance scam.
Achufusi would be arrested following investigation with the fund recovered from him.
“Acting on the request, INTERPOL NCB Abuja conducted discreet, intelligence-led investigations which led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the sum of $23,000.
“Following the completion of all necessary documentation and in collaboration with international partners, the recovered funds were formally handed over to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, through the British High Commission in Abuja, represented by Mr. Shaun McLeary, for secure delivery to the victim. Meanwhile the suspect will be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation.” The statement partly read.
Hundeyin held that the development underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s sustained commitment to intelligence-driven policing, effective international collaboration, and the disruption of transnational cybercrime networks.
The police spokesperson reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to ensuring that proceeds of crime are traced, recovered, and returned to victims, while offenders are identified and brought to justice in line with applicable laws and international best practices.