The Ghana Police Service, in collaboration with the National Signals Bureau (NSB) and the Nigeria Police Force, successfully rescued two female victims of a recent kidnapping tied to an elaborate online romance scam. Apexnewsgh reports
The women, who were featured in a distressing viral video, prompted an outcry from the public and underscored the dangers inherent in online relationships.
The heroic rescue operation led to the apprehension of eight suspects connected to the kidnapping, with arrests occurring in both Ghana and Nigeria. Law enforcement agencies from the two countries worked cohesively, tracing the suspects to various hideouts while ensuring justice for the victims.
DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), revealed that the victims, identified as Anastasia Badoo Atta and Serwaa Konadu, fell prey to individuals masquerading as white men on Facebook. These scammers skillfully lured the unsuspecting women with marriage proposals, ultimately persuading them to travel to Nigeria.
“The suspects met the two victims through their Facebook accounts, posed as white men who wanted to marry them, and convinced them to accept the marriage proposal,” DCOP Donkor explained.
Both women journeyed separately but found themselves at the same location in Nigeria on April 22, 2025, where they were abducted by Peter Okoye and his accomplices. The captors subjected them to horrific abuse, stripping them of their dignity, physically assaulting them, and even threatening their lives while recording the acts of violence.
In a heart-wrenching move, the kidnappers sent the video footage to the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of GHS18,000 from each family. Despite the emotional turmoil, the families responded and managed to pay a total of GHS18,000 to various phone numbers linked to the suspects.
Fortunately, DCOP Donkor confirmed that both victims and the suspects are now in the custody of Nigerian authorities. Plans are in motion for the victims’ safe return to Ghana and the extradition of the suspects to assist in further investigations.
“At the moment, information received from our counterparts in Nigeria indicates that both victims are fine. They have received routine medical checks,” she assured the public, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the harrowing ordeal.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
