Police Arraign Visa Agent Over Alleged N7.6 Million Fraud in Ibadan

IBADAN — The police on Monday arraigned a 36-year-old visa agent, Lawal Idris, before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly defrauding an intending emigrant, Atinuke Adeoso, of N7.6 million under the pretence of procuring Canadian or Spanish work visas for her, in a case that highlights the growing epidemic of visa fraud in Nigeria, where unlicensed agents exploit the desperation of citizens seeking to travel abroad in search of better opportunities. The defendant was arraigned on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty, and the prosecutor, ASP Sikiru Ibrahim, alleged that between November and December 2025, the defendant fraudulently obtained N7,660,000 from Ms Adeoso, knowing that the offer of procuring foreign work visas was false, and fraudulently converted the money to his own use, thereby defrauding the victim of her hard-earned savings.

According to the prosecutor, the offence was committed at No 48, Taiwo House, Sango area of Ibadan, and contravenes Section 383 and is punishable under Sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000, which criminalise stealing and fraudulent obtaining of property. The magistrate, M. Mudashiru, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be his close relative and must possess a voter’s card or driver’s licence, and he adjourned the matter until August 10 for a hearing, giving the prosecution time to prepare its case and the defence to respond to the allegations.

This case is far from isolated, as visa-related fraud has quietly grown into one of the fastest-rising sources of financial loss among middle-income Nigerians desperate to relocate abroad, with the EFCC reporting that it received more than 1,200 complaints regarding fake US visas and job offers in 2025 alone, with victims losing an estimated N4.7 billion to these scams. Between 2020 and 2024, Interpol Nigeria estimates that Nigerians lost at least $60 million to migration scams, though the true figure may be significantly higher, as many victims refrain from reporting due to embarrassment or fear, which enables criminal networks to persist and continue defrauding unsuspecting citizens. Experts have warned that Nigeria risks creating a shadow fraud economy worth as much as N50 billion as fraudsters prey on citizens’ desperation to travel abroad, and between 2022 and September 2023 alone, an estimated 3.68 million Nigerians left the country, with Afrobarometer reporting that 56 per cent of Nigerians have considered emigrating, up from 36 per cent in 2017, creating a fertile ground for scammers.

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This soaring demand has opened the door for scammers who operate without any licensing framework to regulate migration services in the country, and authorities acknowledge the explosion in such crimes, with the EFCC reporting that petitions on travel and visa scams jumped 48 per cent in early 2025 compared to the previous year, marking the sharpest spike on record. Scammers have intensified their tactics, using fake websites, unsolicited social media messages, and urgent calls to pressure applicants into making payments, often promising fast approvals or guaranteed visas in return, while leaving victims stranded after they have paid substantial sums of money that they can ill afford to lose.

Lawal Idris is not alone in facing such allegations, as police and anti-corruption agencies across Nigeria have recently intensified efforts to tackle a growing wave of visa fraud and travel scams. In Lagos State, the police recently arrested a syndicate that allegedly defrauded more than 100 victims of over N500 million by falsely claiming to facilitate Canadian and Australian work visas, and the suspects, aged between 23 and 36, operated under the guise of an educational consultancy, collecting money from applicants through personal bank accounts and unofficial channels while never submitting legitimate applications. Similarly, in Osun State, police arrested a 54-year-old man over alleged visa fraud involving N8,410,000, where the suspect presented himself as a travel agent but allegedly absconded with the money and became unreachable, leaving his victims without recourse. In a related case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating a travel agent and visa consultant, Chukwujindu Goodness Nchekwube, for allegedly defrauding about 24 persons of approximately N68 million under the pretence of processing work visas, with some victims reportedly receiving forged visas and offer letters after making substantial payments. Additionally, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) recently arraigned a woman in Ekiti over an alleged N159 million visa fraud, demonstrating the scale and geographical spread of the problem across the country.

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a formal warning to Nigerians planning international travel, emphasising that visa application fraud is on the rise and urging strict adherence to official procedures to avoid falling victim, and the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) has been at the forefront of these efforts, investigating and prosecuting offenders. According to police and anti-fraud experts, applicants should be wary of several red flags, including requests for payment into personal bank accounts, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, promises of guaranteed visa approval or “fast-track” processing, pressure to act quickly to secure limited slots, agents operating solely through social media without physical offices, demand for upfront fees without proper documentation, and instructions to submit false information, all of which are common tactics used by fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting victims.

Experts advise Nigerians to take ownership of their travel plans and verify all information directly from official embassy websites or government-approved agents, and immigration strategist Joseph Dangana advises that before engaging anyone, Nigerians should verify through the Nigerian Immigration Service’s official registry, as people have been known to land abroad only to be deported instantly for travelling with forged papers. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has introduced the Nigeria Certified Immigration Agent (NCIA) initiative to professionalise visa facilitation services by certifying and regulating authorised agents, providing a framework for identifying legitimate service providers. Police urge victims of visa fraud to report suspicious activity to law enforcement without delay, noting that many victims refrain from reporting due to embarrassment or fear, which enables criminal networks to persist and continue defrauding other unsuspecting citizens, and they have set up a dedicated Immigration Fraud Section with offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, working closely with the Nigerian Immigration Service and foreign embassies to dismantle visa rackets and fake travel document syndicates.

Police Arraign Visa Agent Over Alleged N7.6 Million Fraud in Ibadan

Police Nab Woman Caught on Video Trying to Slit Maid’s Throat in Umuahia

UMUAHIA — The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old woman, Mrs Nwoko Gift, for allegedly attempting to kill her 12-year-old house help and niece, Miss Ebony Chimamanda, with a kitchen knife at IBB Housing Estate in Umuahia, following the circulation of a disturbing viral video on social media on Monday, July 6, 2026, which captured the horrifying moment the woman assaulted the young girl and attempted to cut her throat with a knife. In the footage, the visibly terrified victim is seen lying face-down on a concrete floor, pleading for mercy while crying, “Aunty no,” as she shielded her throat from the weapon, and a neighbour in the compound filmed the entire incident, while the young girl was later rescued by a man who intervened to stop the woman from carrying out the deadly attack.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred on Sunday, July 5, 2026, and the suspect, who hails from Ehime Mbano, Imo State, allegedly attempted to kill the girl because she refused to spread clothes she was instructed to hang before the suspect left for the market. The police spokesperson detailed: “Preliminary investigation reveals that on 05/07/2026, Mrs Nwoko Gift, female, 35 years old, of Ehimembano Imo State but resides at IBB Housing Estate, Umuahia, the aunt to Miss Ebo Chimamanda (female, 12 years) of the same address, on the same date attempted to kill Miss Ebo Chimamanda, who stays with her, on the basis that she refused to spread the clothes she was asked to spread before the suspect left for the market” . Police investigations further uncovered a disturbing pattern of abuse, revealing that the suspect had repeatedly beaten and threatened to kill the young girl in the past, painting a grim picture of prolonged domestic violence against a vulnerable child entrusted to her care.

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Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives from the World Bank Divisional Police Headquarters, Umuahia, raced to the scene, rescued the victim, apprehended the suspect, and recovered the kitchen knife used in the attack, ensuring that the weapon was secured as evidence for prosecution. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, and the suspect will be charged with attempted murder upon the conclusion of the inquiry, as police work to build a strong case that ensures justice is served for the young victim. The Police Command strongly condemned the act, with DSP Chinaka stating: “This act is strongly condemned in its entirety. The Abia State Police Command is aware of the incident, and investigation is currently ongoing. The suspect is in our custody, and we will keep the public informed as the investigation progresses” . In a further statement, the command added: “The Command condemns such actions for whatever reasons and advises members of the public to desist from such acts, as well as to report any such incidents to the nearest police station. Together we can keep Abia safe. See something, say something” , underscoring the importance of community vigilance in combating domestic violence and child abuse.

The viral video has triggered widespread outrage across social media, with many Nigerians condemning the attack as attempted murder rather than discipline, and the public has demanded swift justice for the young girl while expressing concern over the rising incidence of child abuse across the country. Nigerian writer and social commentator Charles Ogbu, founder of the Leave No One Behind Rural Care Initiative, has called on the government to declare a state of emergency on child abuse and violence against children in Nigeria, arguing that the frequency and brutality of such incidents demand urgent systemic intervention. In a passionate social media post, Ogbu declared: “I have said it again and again, our society needs to declare a state of emergency on Child abuse and violence against children. And offenders deserve nothing but the harshest punishment possible. This is a blight on human civilization. Happened today at IBB Estate, Umuahia. I have since forwarded the video to the state government and secured assurances of their prompt action. This is attempted murder!” , reflecting the growing frustration among Nigerians who feel that existing laws and enforcement mechanisms have failed to protect vulnerable children. The incident has renewed calls for stronger protection of vulnerable children and enforcement of the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law across Nigeria, as the young victim is expected to receive medical and psychological rehabilitation from the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, which has been urged to take custody of the minor and ensure her long-term safety and wellbeing.

Police Nab Woman Caught on Video Trying to Slit Maid’s Throat in Umuahia

Sultan of Sokoto, Vatican Envoy Unite to Combat Hate Speech, Fake News

ABUJA — The President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on religious communities across Nigeria to work together to combat hate speech, warning that the growing trend of insulting religious leaders and spreading divisive rhetoric poses a serious threat to peaceful coexistence across the country. The Sultan issued the warning on Monday in Abuja after receiving the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, who led a high-level Papal delegation to the National Mosque. The meeting, which also included Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Ignatius Kaigama, and Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, was aimed at strengthening interfaith cooperation and deepening collaboration between Muslim and Catholic leaders in addressing challenges confronting Nigeria and the global community, with both sides acknowledging that the rising tide of religious intolerance and misinformation has become a threat to the nation’s fragile social fabric.

Speaking through the Deputy Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, the Sultan said hate speech has become a major obstacle to harmonious relations among Nigeria’s religious communities, explaining that the phenomenon has eroded trust and fostered deep-seated suspicion between adherents of different faiths. He noted that the damage caused by hate speech extends beyond mere words, as it has created what he described as a “perceptual and relational crisis” that makes genuine dialogue and mutual understanding increasingly difficult to achieve. Shehu quoted the Sultan as saying: “Hate speech has been most injurious to peaceful coexistence in the country. It has created what you may call a perceptual and relational crisis among faith communities in Nigeria” . The monarch specifically condemned the growing trend of individuals publicly insulting respected religious leaders, describing such conduct as dangerous and capable of inflaming religious tensions and triggering communal violence. He stressed that such behaviour must be discouraged irrespective of religious affiliation, adding that people should refrain from insulting not only important religious figures but even ordinary individuals, who equally deserve respect and dignity. Shehu further quoted the Sultan as declaring: “There was a strong call for all religious and faith communities to work together to combat hate speech, especially the growing and unfortunate phenomenon whereby some individuals openly insult religious leaders who are highly respected within their various faith communities” .

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The meeting also highlighted the growing threat posed by fake news, with both religious leaders warning that the spread of false information has continued to fuel tension, mistrust and conflict across the country, and the Sultan emphasised that misinformation, particularly when weaponised along religious lines, has the capacity to undo decades of peaceful coexistence and hard-won interfaith trust. “Fake news is another evil that is being used in the country to precipitate a lot of troubles in the country, and therefore this is something that we need to fight,” the Sultan said, calling on religious leaders and the media to collaborate in combating the scourge of misinformation. The discussions further focused on what participants described as worsening moral degeneration across the world and the increasing rejection of religious values among young people — a phenomenon the Sultan identified as a growing challenge within both Muslim and Christian communities, with many young people becoming disconnected from their religious heritage and ethical foundations. Shehu noted that both leaders agreed that religious institutions have a responsibility to promote sound moral values and provide ethical guidance capable of reversing the trend, and the Sultan praised the Catholic community in Nigeria for its commitment to peaceful coexistence and its active participation in interfaith initiatives aimed at strengthening national unity, describing the partnership between the NSCIA and the Catholic Church as a model for interreligious collaboration in Africa.

Archbishop Gallagher described the engagement as productive and expressed optimism about the role religious leaders could play in fostering peace and stability in Nigeria, noting that the discussions revealed a remarkable alignment of perspectives between Catholic and Muslim leaders on critical national issues. “We had a very frank and illuminating conversation, and it was good to hear that many of our positions regarding the role of religious leaders, both on the Catholic side and the Muslim side, coincide. For me, this is a reason for optimism regarding the religious cohesion of the country and our shared commitment to working for the good of all Nigerians,” Gallagher said, adding that the meeting reinforced a shared conviction that Christians and Muslims must continue to work together in addressing the country’s challenges. “There is a common view and a common conviction that Christians and Muslims, particularly their leaders, must work together for the common good of all Nigerians,” Gallagher declared, underscoring the importance of sustained dialogue and mutual respect in overcoming the divisions that have historically plagued Nigeria’s religious landscape.

The Sultan, through Shehu, stressed that Muslim and Catholic leaders agreed that sustained dialogue, mutual respect and collaboration among faith communities remain critical to preserving national unity and strengthening peace in Nigeria, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working together through interfaith platforms to combat hate speech, fake news and other divisive tendencies capable of undermining peaceful coexistence in the country. The meeting came a day after President Bola Tinubu received Archbishop Gallagher at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the President expressed Nigeria’s desire to deepen relations with the Holy See and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting religious freedom and promoting interfaith harmony. This latest call echoes the Sultan’s previous remarks at the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) meetings, where he has consistently advocated for religious tolerance and national unity, firmly dismissing claims of an Islamisation agenda and declaring that Nigerians must resist divisive narratives that seek to exploit religious differences for political gain.

The Sultan’s engagement with the Vatican delegation is part of a broader tradition of interfaith collaboration in Nigeria, which has seen Muslim and Christian leaders jointly condemn violence, advocate for peace, and promote mutual understanding in a country often divided along religious lines, and the NSCIA, under the Sultan’s leadership, has consistently championed dialogue as the preferred pathway to resolving communal conflicts. Both leaders agreed that the fight against hate speech and misinformation requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, civil society, religious institutions and the media, and they called on religious leaders across the country to use their pulpits and platforms to preach tolerance, unity and respect for all Nigerians, regardless of faith. The meeting concluded with both sides expressing a renewed commitment to deepening interfaith partnerships and exploring concrete initiatives aimed at countering hate speech and promoting mutual understanding, with Archbishop Gallagher noting that the Vatican remains deeply committed to supporting Nigeria’s interfaith efforts and fostering peace in a country that holds significant strategic importance for the Catholic Church and the global community.

Sultan of Sokoto, Vatican Envoy Unite to Combat Hate Speech, Fake News