The Niger State Police Command has apprehended an 18-year-old man accused of posing as a woman on social media to deceive and defraud unsuspecting individuals—an incident that sheds light on the increasing rate of online scams across the state.
The suspect, Victor Ugwu, who resides on Easy Life Street, Kaduna Road, was arrested on October 16, 2025, by a Maje Division patrol team after being found in a public altercation with a resident identified as Peter.
This development was revealed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, on Sunday.
“On October 16, 2025, at about 6pm, a patrol team attached to Maje Division, while on routine patrol along Kaduna Road, intercepted Victor Ugwu in a public argument with one Peter of the same area,” Abiodun said.
The statement explained that Peter had previously asked Victor to introduce him to a female colleague but was instead deceived when Victor allegedly impersonated a woman online.
“Surprisingly, Victor chose to dress like a lady, took self-pictures, and forwarded them to Peter through social media, requesting money.
“During investigation, a search was conducted in Victor’s house, and a wig and female clothes were recovered,” Abiodun said.
Further investigation revealed that Victor confessed to distributing the pictures to several contacts on Facebook and TikTok as part of a dating scam aimed at both defrauding individuals and boosting his online engagement metrics.
“He confessed that he shared the pictures to his contacts on Facebook and TikTok for a dating scam, and to also achieve one thousand viewers and followers for monetisation.
“The case is under further investigation,” the police spokesperson added.
The case highlights the evolving strategies of cybercriminals in Nigeria, who now exploit social media platforms to manipulate trust and extract money from their victims. Authorities have since warned citizens to confirm online identities and refrain from sending money to individuals they have never met.
Meanwhile, in another operation carried out the same day, the Niger State Police successfully recovered a stolen vehicle along Kaduna Road.
Abiodun said, “On October 16, a report was received at Maje Division indicating that a white Golf vehicle with registration number RSH 442 FD was stolen from where it was parked at Hayin-Kaduna.
“The police patrol team mobilised and searched along Maje-Dikko Junction to Kaduna Road. Fortunately, the vehicle was found abandoned and recovered to the police station.
“The complainant confirmed it as the stolen vehicle. Investigation is ongoing to identify the perpetrator,” Abiodun concluded.
The command urged residents to remain cautious, especially online, and reiterated its commitment to prosecuting anyone involved in fraudulent activities to the fullest extent of the law.
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