BREAKING NEWS: Police rescue abducted Ghanaian women in Rivers

Two Ghanian women, Anastasia Arthur aka Baidoo (48) and Amaseerwaa Konadu, who were abducted after falling victim of a Facebook love scam operated by a cross-border kidnapping syndicate, have been rescued by the police.

According to the police, the victims were freed on May 1, 2025, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in an operation by the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Ghanaian Police Service.

Three suspects were also arrested in connection with the crime.

The Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Friday, said the operation was initiated after a kidnapping report was filed with the National Central Bureau  in Abuja on April 27.

Adejobi said investigations revealed that Arthur was lured from Ghana through a romance scam orchestrated via Facebook, which ultimately led to her abduction.

He said, “Following a report filed with the National Central Bureau Abuja on April 27th, 2025, regarding the kidnap of one Anastasia Arthur aka Baidoo, a 48-year-old Ghanaian national, the Nigeria Police Force, through its Intelligence Response Team, has successfully rescued two kidnapped Ghanaian nationals and apprehended a key kidnapping syndicate operating across international borders.

“Initial investigations revealed that Ms. Baidoo’s abduction stemmed from a sophisticated Facebook love scam. Advanced technical analysis provided a lead to a key location connected to the perpetrators, and operatives were deployed for immediate action. Working in close collaboration with the Ghanaian Police Service, the IRT operatives identified a criminal syndicate with members operating in both Ghana and Nigeria.”

According to Adejobi, one of the suspects, Emeka Christian, 27, a Nigerian residing in Bolgatanga, Upper Eastern Ghana, was arrested and reportedly confessed to receiving GH 10,000 in ransom through his Ghanaian mobile account.

The Force PRO said the suspect allegedly disclosed that the money was converted to Naira and transferred to a Nigerian bank account belonging to one Peter Okoye.

“Key breakthroughs in the investigation included the arrest of one Emeka Christian, a 27-year-old Nigerian national residing in Bolgatanga, Upper Eastern Ghana, who confessed to receiving GH 10,000 Cedis as ransom money for the victim through his Ghanaian mobile account. He further admitted to transferring the Naira equivalent to a Nigerian bank account belonging to one Peter Okoye,” he added.

Adejobi said IRT operatives tracked and apprehended Okoye in Port Harcourt, alongside two members of his syndicate, Paulinus Chidokwe and Chinonso Okafor, both aged 35.

He said during the raid, the two Ghanaian women were found in deplorable conditions and immediately taken to a hospital for treatment.