The Nigeria Police Force, through the National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC), has arrested a 27-year-old suspect, Aliyu Muhammed, in connection with alleged computer-related fraud, identity theft, obtaining by false pretence, and money laundering.
The arrest followed a petition filed by an academic staff member of a university in Akwa Ibom State, whose identity was withheld.
According to the petition, the complainant came across advertisements for household items on a Facebook “declutter” page operating under the name “SHOPHOUSEHOLDITEMS” in March 2026. After initial contact, the transaction was moved to WhatsApp, where the victim was allegedly persuaded to make multiple payments totaling ₦5.7 million.
The funds were reportedly transferred into several fintech accounts. However, after payment was completed, the items were not delivered, the victim was blocked from further communication, and the Facebook page was subsequently abandoned.
Upon receipt of the complaint, operatives of the NPF-NCCC launched an investigation using technical intelligence tools and in collaboration with Meta Inc. The digital tracking process reportedly led to the identification of the account linked to the fraudulent page, which was traced to Katsina State, where the suspect was arrested.
Authorities also confirmed that the ₦5.7 million involved in the transaction has been recovered, while investigations into the case are ongoing.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to tackling cybercrime and protecting citizens from online fraudsters. He urged members of the public to exercise caution when conducting transactions on social media platforms, verify sellers’ identities, and avoid making payments to unverified accounts without proper verification of goods.
