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Romance Scam: Nigerian National Arrested in South Africa for Defrauding Woman of R3 Million
A Nigerian national has been arrested in South Africa for his involvement in an elaborate romance scam. The suspect, whose identity is yet to be disclosed, allegedly posed as a white man on Facebook, using a fake profile to lure his victim into a fraudulent relationship. The woman, believing she was in a legitimate romantic relationship, was swindled out of a staggering R3 million.
The suspect’s modus operandi followed a familiar pattern used by romance scammers: establishing trust through regular communication, sharing fabricated personal stories, and expressing false love and intentions to marry. Over time, the scammer convinced the victim to send large sums of money under various pretexts, such as fake medical emergencies and supposed investments. The victim, hoping to support her “partner,” transferred the funds without suspecting she was being deceived.
The arrest of the Nigerian national was made possible through the coordinated efforts of South African law enforcement agencies and cybercrime specialists, who had been tracking the suspect for months. Authorities uncovered the scheme after the victim reported the suspicious activities when she became aware of the deceit.
Romance scams, especially on social media platforms like Facebook, have been on the rise, with scammers targeting vulnerable individuals seeking companionship. In response to this growing threat, South African authorities have intensified efforts to clamp down on such fraudulent activities, urging citizens to exercise caution while engaging with individuals online.
The suspect is currently in police custody, facing charges of fraud and cybercrime. Law enforcement agencies are hopeful that this arrest will serve as a warning to others involved in similar schemes.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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