How 2 Ghanaian women were tricked with marriage to ‘white men’ and kidnapped in Nigeria

Two Ghanaian women were rescued after being kidnapped in Nigeria. They fell victim to a romance scam that shocked the public. This incident has led to cross-border investigations by security agencies in Ghana and Nigeria.

The victims, Anastasia Baidoo Arthur and Evelyn Konadu, were lured with fake marriage proposals. They believed they were communicating with white foreigners online. Upon arriving in Nigeria, they were abducted and assaulted.

At a press briefing, DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor explained how the women were deceived. The suspects contacted them through Facebook, posing as men interested in marriage. The victims accepted their proposals without realizing the danger.

Anastasia and Evelyn traveled separately but arrived on April 22, 2025. They met at a pre-arranged location in Port Harcourt, where they were immediately kidnapped.

Police investigations identified four suspects: Peter Okoye, Paulinus Chidokwe, Chinoso Okafor, and Christian Emeka. Okoye and Emeka had ties to Ghana and previously worked with QNET there. Emeka returned to Ghana again before the kidnapping plot began.

DCOP Donkor stated that this group was part of a larger syndicate involved in romance scams across both countries. She noted that several Nigerians were engaged in these scams targeting victims in Ghana.

After the kidnapping, the women faced brutal treatment from their captors. They were stripped, tied up, and assaulted with machetes. The suspects threatened them with death while recording their ordeal on video.

These videos circulated on social media as tools for extortion. The families received ransom demands of GH₵500,000 for each victim. Before arrests were made, GH₵18,000 was transferred to accounts linked to the suspects.

With help from Ghana’s National Signals Bureau and Nigerian police, the victims were rescued. Eight suspects were arrested from various hideouts in both countries.

DCOP Donkor confirmed that both victims and suspects are currently with Nigerian authorities. Efforts are underway to return the victims to Ghana soon.

The suspects will also be extradited to assist further investigations in Ghana. Police have warned the public about online romance scams and urged reporting any suspicious activity.

This disturbing incident has prompted calls for increased vigilance online and better collaboration between security agencies to combat cyber crimes.