The Airport Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old man, Precious Onudhona, over an alleged romance scam involving ₦48.5 million (approximately $35,000).

The suspect, a native of Delta State, was arrested on February 2, 2026, while attempting to board a flight from Lagos to Asaba, Delta State, following what the police described as actionable intelligence.

Confirming the arrest in a statement on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said Onudhona was apprehended by operatives of the Anti-Fraud Unit as part of sustained efforts to prevent criminal activities within the aviation environment.

“The Anti-Fraud Unit of the Airport Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old suspect in connection with a large-scale fraud amounting to ₦48,500,000, equivalent to approximately $35,000,” Adeola said.

He disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect became involved in fraudulent activities in 2023 after joining a syndicate that specialised in romance-related scams.

According to him, the syndicate targeted unsuspecting victims through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, using false identities and deceptive narratives to defraud them.

Adeola added that the suspect allegedly posed as Travis Kevin, whom he claimed was a white American medical doctor, to gain the trust of victims.

“The suspect created a fake banking domain with fictitious account balances, which he used to solicit funds from victims under the pretext of repaying them within a short period,” he said.

He further explained that the suspect claimed the funds were needed for feeding and medical supplies after allegedly sustaining injuries in the line of duty, adding that the payments were received through cryptocurrency transactions.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, ordered a comprehensive investigation into the case.

“A thorough investigation must be conducted to ensure justice is served and that all members of the fraud syndicate are identified and apprehended,” the commissioner was quoted as saying.

She reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance stance against criminal activities within airport facilities, stressing that the aviation environment must not be exploited for unlawful purposes.

Adeola added that the suspect would be transferred to the Interpol Section for further investigation and prosecution.

The arrest comes weeks after operatives of the command apprehended another suspected internet fraudster. PUNCH Online had earlier reported the arrest of a 20-year-old suspect, Essien Akpama, over the alleged defrauding of foreign victims, mostly in the United States, of about ₦1.25 billion and several high-end electronic gadgets.