Philippine authorities have arrested eight Nigerians for alleged involvement in separate cases of kidnapping and fraud. The first case involved five suspects accused of kidnapping a fellow Nigerian, while the second case saw three Nigerians detained for extortion and scamming activities.
In Angeles City, Pampanga, the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group, alongside local police from Mabalacat and Angeles City, arrested five Nigerians identified as Evans Chinemerem, David Ibegbulamo, Nwokeke Ihechukwu, Nwokeke Chinemmerem, and Okonkwo Kosiso. The suspects allegedly abducted their compatriot, Kingsley Ikeagwuana, a student living in Paranaque City, and demanded ransom for his release.
Central Luzon Police director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan detailed the operation, stating, “The suspects were nabbed when our operatives raided their hideout in Barangay Malabanias.”
The police recovered three firearms from the suspects, including two .45 caliber pistols and a .38 caliber revolver.
“Hopefully, this will serve as a warning to those who want to commit crimes and to thieves,” Maranan added.
The suspects face charges for kidnapping for ransom and violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, also known as Republic Act 10591. They remain in police custody as investigations continue.
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In a separate case last September, three Nigerian nationals were arrested in Las Piñas City on allegations of extortion and fraud. The suspects, identified as Ugochukwu Osuagwu, Chinonso Omeje, and Benjamin Onu, were apprehended by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after a woman filed a complaint against them.
According to NBI Director Jaime Santiago, the suspects were charged under the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The complainant, who met Osuagwu on a dating site in 2022, revealed that she briefly dated him before he borrowed her GCash account and SIM card, claiming it was to transfer money for school fees. Unknown to her, Osuagwu and his accomplices used her accounts to funnel funds from their scamming operations.
The victim suffered significant consequences, including jail time, after someone duped by the suspects pressed charges against her. When she pleaded with the suspects to return her accounts, they demanded money.
“They initially asked for P3,000 but eventually agreed to P2,500,” Santiago explained.
The suspects were arrested when they accepted the marked money from the victim. Police recovered mobile phones with GCash accounts and ATM cards during the operation.