2 Nigerian men, Pinay held for online fraud

MANILA, Philippines — Police have arrested two Nigerian men and a Filipina believed to be members of an online fraud ring in Las Piñas City.

Evans Amara Okeke, 26; Chidiebere Junio Ezema, 25, and their Filipina cohort Judy Ann Japitana, 23, were nabbed during a raid on their hideout at Verdant Acre Subdivision in Barangay Pamplona Tres, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas said.

The operation stemmed from the complaint of a 64-year-old woman who told probers that the suspects duped her of P3.23 million.

The victim said Okeke, who posed as an engineer, lured her into a long-distance relationship, with the suspect promising to visit her in the Philippines to start a building contract for a shopping mall in San Fernando City, La Union.

According to the victim, she sent Okeke money through cash transfer upon the suspect’s request. She reported Okeke to the authorities after she found out the suspect was a fraud.