Two Ghanaian women rescued after falling victim to romance scam in Nigeria

May 7, 2025

DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID)

Writer: Princess Debrah Avenyoh

Two Ghanaian women have been rescued after falling prey to a romance scam that led to their kidnapping in Nigeria. The case has sparked public concern and prompted a joint investigation by security agencies in both Ghana and Nigeria.

Victims Lured by Fake Marriage Promises

The victims, Anastasia Baidoo Arthur and Evelyn Konadu, were deceived by individuals posing as white men on Facebook. These men claimed to be interested in marrying the women.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), said:

“The suspects posed as white men who wanted to marry the victims. The two unsuspecting women believed the proposals and agreed to travel.”

Kidnapping in Port Harcourt

Both women arrived separately in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on April 22, 2025, as arranged by the suspects. Upon arrival, they were immediately abducted. The suspects include: Peter Okoye (31), Paulinus Chidokwe (35), Chinoso Okafor (35), Christian Emeka.

DCOP Donkor noted that some of the suspects had previous ties to Ghana and were involved in the operations of QNET before returning to Nigeria. Emeka returned to Ghana again in 2024 before the kidnapping was planned.

Brutal Treatment and Ransom Demand

After the abduction, the victims were subjected to severe abuse: They were stripped, tied up, and assaulted with machetes.
Their heads were covered with plastic and they were threatened with hanging. The abuse was recorded on video, shared on social media, and sent to their families.
The kidnappers demanded GHS 500,000 for each victim. Before the arrests, GHS 18,000 had already been sent through mobile money.

Rescue Operation and Arrests

With help from the National Signals Bureau (NSB) in Ghana and the Nigeria Police Force, the victims were located and rescued. A total of eight suspects were arrested from hideouts in both countries.

“The Ghana Police Service is working with Nigerian authorities to ensure the victims and suspects are returned to Ghana,” DCOP Donkor confirmed. She added that the suspects will face further investigations upon their return.

Police Caution Public Against Online Romance Scams

The Ghana Police Service is urging the public to be cautious when engaging in online relationships. Individuals are advised to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.

This incident has renewed calls for public awareness on digital safety and stronger collaboration between countries to tackle cyber-related crimes.