Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man, Tony Ameachi, over an alleged N2.5 million fraud involving a deep freezer transaction, bringing an end to an investigation that began in April 2026 and spanned two states before culminating in his capture in Lagos. The command also recovered 25 Automated Teller Machine cards, 25 mobile phones and 16 Subscriber Identity Module cards from the suspect following his arrest, a haul that investigators believe may be linked to a broader scheme involving multiple fraudulent transactions and additional victims.
The case began on April 1, 2026, when a dealer in the purchase and resale of deep freezers responded to an online advertisement offering the goods for sale. According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the complainant contacted the person behind the advertisement and, after discussions, transferred N2.5 million into a bank account bearing the name Abdulmoruf Abdulahi for the purchase of the deep freezers for resale. The goods were never delivered, and the person with whom the complainant had been communicating subsequently stopped responding to her messages. The matter was formally reported at the Igbesa Police Division on April 4, 2026, prompting detectives to commence an investigation that would take more than five months to yield results.
The breakthrough came in September 2026, when detectives traced Ameachi to the Ojo area of Lagos State, where he was arrested on September 22, 2026. A search conducted during the arrest led to the recovery of the 25 ATM cards, 25 mobile phones and 16 SIM cards. Further investigation established that the suspect allegedly obtained utility bills and newly registered SIM cards from associates, who were directed to use them to open various bank accounts. The ATM cards were thereafter collected by the suspect and allegedly used in transactions connected with fraudulent activities. The police said the recovered devices, ATM cards and SIM cards are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation to establish their relevance to the present case, determine whether they are connected to other similar transactions and identify other persons or possible victims linked to the investigation. The suspect, case file and recovered exhibits have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further discreet investigation. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the suspect will be charged to court in accordance with the law.
The arrest of Ameachi is part of a wider security operation conducted by the Ogun State Police Command between September 16 and 26, 2026, during which 11 suspects were arrested and 25 ATM cards, three firearms and two suspected stolen vehicles were recovered. The operations involved personnel from various police divisions and the Special Weapons and Tactics unit of the command. Babaseyi disclosed that in a separate operation, SWAT Base 7 in Abule-Iroko arrested three suspects after intercepting an unregistered tricycle and a TVS motorcycle around Dalemo, Ota, on September 21. The suspects were identified as Olamide Ayandele, 30; Tope Samuel, 40; and Ayo Peter Ojo, 30. Preliminary investigation linked them to alleged vehicle theft around the Ijoko axis. SWAT operatives also arrested a suspected cult member, Peter Olanrewaju, 34, on September 22, following information about a suspected cult gathering. Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Adebayo Sodiq, 36, while one pump-action rifle and two locally made pistols were recovered. In the Olorunda area, two suspects, Mutiu Gafar, 19, and Fatai Obasanmi, 37, were arrested after three people were allegedly intercepted conveying stolen electrical materials on a motorcycle along Ayetoro Road on September 19. The police recovered bundles of electrical wiring, a change-over electrical box and a circuit breaker box, while another suspect, identified as Tosin, reportedly escaped. The command also recovered a Safira vehicle allegedly taken from its owner and arrested a suspect, Olatunji Olalekan.
The case highlights the growing risks associated with online transactions in Nigeria, particularly where buyers are required to make substantial payments to accounts bearing names different from those of the individuals they have been communicating with. The complainant in this case transferred N2.5 million to an account bearing the name Abdulmoruf Abdulahi, a name that did not match the person she had been dealing with online. The police have repeatedly warned that such discrepancies should serve as a red flag, and that buyers should verify the identities and credibility of sellers before making payments. The command urged members of the public to retain transaction receipts, account details, telephone numbers, messages and other relevant records when conducting online transactions, and to report suspected fraud promptly. It further warned against allowing other people to use one’s ATM cards, bank accounts, SIM cards or personal documents for transactions outside the owner’s control.
The arrest of Tony Ameachi is a significant victory for the Ogun State Police Command, which has been under pressure to address the rising incidence of online fraud in the state. The recovery of 25 ATM cards and 25 mobile phones suggests that the suspect may have been operating a sophisticated scheme involving multiple identities, bank accounts and communication devices. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests. For the complainant who lost N2.5 million, the arrest offers a measure of hope that justice may be served, though the recovery of the funds remains uncertain. For the wider public, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of online transactions and the importance of due diligence. The police have promised that the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation, and the coming weeks will reveal whether the evidence gathered is sufficient to secure a conviction. For now, Ameachi remains in custody, and the investigation continues.
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