Operatives from the Anti-Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force’s Airport Police Command arrested 20-year-old Essien Emmanuel Akpama on January 5, 2026, at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport as he attempted to flee the country. The operation stemmed from months of intelligence-led surveillance to block airports as escape routes for fraudsters targeting international victims. CP Ogunbode Olufunke, the Command’s Commissioner, highlighted ongoing efforts to dismantle such networks in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Fraud Schemes Exposed
Akpama, who moved from Calabar, Cross River State, to Lagos on February 23, 2024, orchestrated scams defrauding US victims of over ₦1 billion, equivalent to more than $1 million. In a key case, he posed as a celebrity to trick a 47-year-old woman into sending $1 million for a fake Florida orphanage property via the “BullRun 2.0” cryptocurrency scheme, previously “4 Way Mirror Money.” He also scammed a 70-year-old victim of ₦25.7 million ($18,000) by directing purchases of gift cards and gadgets shipped to Nigeria.
Recovered Items
Police seized high-end devices linked to the frauds: one MacBook Pro 14-inch, one iPhone 17 Pro Max, two Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, and one Google Pixel 10 Pro, totaling ₦8.14 million. Akpama allegedly claimed these were needed for “secure communication” while impersonating a 60-year-old UN orthopedic surgeon in Nigeria. These recoveries underscore the material gains from his operations.
Next Steps
The case now lies with the Nigeria Police Force Special Fraud Unit (NPF-SFU) for deeper probes, with arraignment planned post-investigation. No further arrests or updates on additional victims have emerged as of January 9, 2026.
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