₦airaland Forum

A man in Shanghai has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam, losing nearly $28,000 after being deceived into believing he was in a long-distance relationship with an AI-generated girlfriend.

The scam, reported by Chinese state media on Wednesday, February 26, involved the use of generative artificial intelligence software to
create realistic video and still images of a woman, who was presented as the fictional "Ms. Jiao."

The victim, identified only as Mr. Liu, transferred nearly 200,000 yuan (around $28,000) to what he thought was his online lover’s bank account. The scammers convinced him that his "girlfriend" needed the funds to open a business and assist
a relative with medical expenses. To further support the scam, they provided fake identification and medical reports.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, the
operation was carried out by a "scammer team"
that used AI to produce convincing images and
videos of the woman, who Mr Liu never met in
person. The victim was shown images of the
woman in various settings, such as holding a
paint palette and standing on a city street, all
created using AI or by combining multiple
images.

This incident highlights the growing threat posed by AI-driven scams, as technology increasingly allows for the creation of highly convincing fake identities. Earlier this month, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, issued a warning to users about online romance scams involving generative AI, noting the rise in such deceptive practices.

Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to officially recognize the late Chief MKO Abiola as one of Nigeria’s past presidents.

Kalu called for Abiola’s portrait to be placed alongside those of other former leaders in the Presidential Villa, emphasizing that his victory in the June 12, 1993, election should be fully acknowledged.

Speaking to Senate correspondents before plenary on Tuesday, February 25, Kalu referenced former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s recently released memoir, where he admitted that Abiola won the election.

"Yes, Abiola won the election. And I will say President Tinubu should declare him a president posthumously," Kalu stated.

He commended former President Muhammadu Buhari for conferring a national honour on Abiola but insisted that further recognition was necessary.

"Since Abiola won, his picture should be placed among Nigeria’s past presidents. I commend former President Buhari for giving him a national honour, but I also appeal to President Tinubu to officially recognize him and place his image where it belongs. This would help bring succour to his family," Kalu said.

Addressing Babangida’s memoirs, Kalu described them as incomplete and urged the former military leader to publish a second volume to clarify unanswered questions about the annulment of the June 12 election. "I look forward to the second edition of Babangida’s book because the first did not reveal all the realities. I was present during the events of June 12, and I know what happened. Babangida should call out the names of those responsible for preventing the election declaration."

He also refuted claims that the 1966 coup was an ethnic conspiracy, maintaining that it was a "Nigerian coup, executed by the military," not an Igbo coup.

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An Attempt by a 24-year-old Thai lady, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 46.60 kilograms into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos, has been thwarted by
operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who arrested her after discovering the illicit consignment in her boxes.

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A statement from Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the NDLEA, says the suspect who confessed to being a hired drug trafficker was arrested on Thursday 20th February 2025 during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar at the arrival hall, terminal 2 of the Lagos airport. She said the drug cartel, which recruited her promised to pay her $ 3,000 upon successful delivery of the illicit drug consignment in Nigeria.

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Babafemi said another bid by a drug traffickingy syndicate to ship 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud with a total weight of 42.2kg concealed in walls of crated cartons to London, UK, through the export shed of the Lagos airport was also frustrated by NDLEA officers on Friday 21st February. Three suspects: a freight agent and two dispatch riders were initially arrested in
connection with the seizure before the mastermind of the shipment, Samuel Bitris, was swiftly traced to his Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos home where he was arrested.

"Mr Fake Pastor of Revival Streams Church your comment is very disgraceful appalling, immoral, and unacceptable. As a supposed man off, God, you should be advocating for the protection and well-being of minors, not justifying heinous acts.

"The vice principal's actions are statutory r3pe, a serious crime. A 13-year-old student cannot provide consent. Your attempt to shift blame and imply the victim 'seduced' the perpetrator is despicable.

"Your statement disqualifies you from being considered a genuine pastor. Your 'midnight prayers' are a facade. I warn parents to keep their underage teens away from you and your ministry.

I call on law enforcement to investigate your ministry for potential cases of child abuse and defilement. Your words and actions demonstrate a clear disregard for the safety and dignity of minors.

"You need to retract your statement, apologize, and seek guidance. Until then, you pose a danger to vulnerable children.

“Make una deh careful of who you call my Pastor ooo. If I were His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno this fake pastor will be arrested & made to resist parading himself a Pastor.

Considering HE is a father and a Pastor that loves children.”

"My divine compensation" Sunmbo Adeoye showers encomium on husband David Adeoye on Valentine’s Day

Sunmbo Adeoye has gone on Instagram to express her love for her husband.

She shared an adorable video of her and David Adeoye dancing and she hailed him as her "divine compensation".

The mum-of-four wrote: "mydivinecompensation "I just want you to know that "I love how you let me be me, David Adeoye."

Sunmbo shares two kids with her husband Pastor David Adeoye, the General Overseer and Senior Pastor of Royalty Christian Centre. She also shares two kids with Tuface Idibia.

The Imo State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old man, Chidi Emma Azonibe, for causing panic after raising a false alarm of herdsmen invasion in Umuoba community, Irete in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the command, DSP Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, February 12, 2024, said the suspect circulated a false threat message in the community, warning that Fulani herdsmen were planning an attack on residents.

Residents of Umuoba had on Monday night, February 10, night discovered the threat notice on their gates, which read, “FULANI HERDSMEN. WE ARE COMING. WAIT FOR US AT ANYTIME, ANY MOMENT NOW. WAIT FOR US."

The suspect admitted to having distributed the notice alongside his brother, acting on the instruction of one Prophetess Ijeoma who allegedly received a divine instruction about the attack.

[quote]“Operatives of the Imo State Police Command, following painstaking investigations, on 11/02/2025 apprehended an individual responsible for circulating a threatening message in the Umuoba community of Irete,” the statement read.

"The message, which created significant public concern over a potential herdsmen attack, prompted an immediate and thorough investigation by the Command.

"Mr. Chidi Emma Azonibe, 35, a native of Umuelele in Irete, admitted to posting the message. He stated that the message was composed by his prophetess, Rev. Ijeoma of Assembly Church Irete, and that he, along with his brother Amanea, was instructed to disseminate it within the community.

"Mr. Azonibe further alleged that the prophetess told him that she had received a divine revelation from God warning that warning that Fulani herdsmen were planning an attack on the residents of Irete, prompting her to compose the false message as a means of alerting the community.

The threatening words, “FULANI HERDMEN WE ARE COMING WAIT FOR US AT ANYTIME ANY MOMENT NOW WAIT FOR US,” has significantly contributed to the heightened level of anxiety among local residents of Irete and Owerri metropolis.

"Efforts are being intensified to apprehend the alleged prophet and other suspects at large. "The suspect is currently undergoing investigation and is expected to face prosecution.

“The Imo State Police Command has also issued a stern warning against the spread of false news and misinformation, stating that anyone found inciting panic or unrest will face the full wrath of the law.”

Some South Africans are calling for the removal of their Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, after Miss Universe First Runner-Up 2024, Chidimma Adeshina was spotted in Cape Town.

A viral video making the rounds on X allegedly shows the Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, hanging out at a café in Waterfront, Cape Town, sparking fury among some South Africans, with many questioning how she ‘’managed'' to re-enter the country.

In October 2024, the Department of Home Affairs claimed that an investigation had found that there was prima facie evidence that Adeshina's mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.

The department further announced that it had cancelled Adetshina and her mother's IDs and. travel documents after they failed to adhere to an order to make submissions as to why their documents shouldn't be revoked.

Adetshina was forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa competition amidst backlash and. accusations of not being a South African.

The beauty queen became a target of xenophobic attacks due to her mixed heritage her father is Nigerian while her mother has Mozambican roots.

The situation escalated when claims of identity fraud related to her mother surfaced, prompting the Department to investigate her citizenship status.

Adetshina decided to step down from the SA competition and later went on to win the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant.


See some posts on X below…

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Nigerian telecommunications operators have started implementing the long-awaited 50 per cent tariff hike following regulatory approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission as lawmakers moved to halt the rollout, citing economic hardship.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed the telecom regulator and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to suspend the tariff increase, arguing that Nigerians cannot afford higher telecom costs amid rising inflation and the removal of fuel subsidies.

The tariff hike, which had been cleared by the NCC, was scheduled to take effect nationwide starting Monday. While MTN, the country’s largest telecommunications provider, had already started implementing the revised rates as of Tuesday, other key players—Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile—had yet to release their new pricing structure.

A senior MTN executive, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, confirmed the development. “Yes, we’ve started updating our price lists. However, this process is gradual, and we haven’t completed it for all products yet.”

The tariff adjustment primarily affects MTN data plans. For example, the 1.5GB monthly plan, previously priced at N1,000, has now been replaced with a 1.8GB plan costing N1,500.

Similarly, the 15GB plan has increased from N4,500 to N6,500, while the 20GB plan now costs N7,500, up from N5,500. Larger data bundles have seen even steeper hikes, with the 1.5 terabyte 90-day plan increasing from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan rising from N75,000 to N120,000.

The source added, “From tomorrow (Wednesday), prices of other MTN products will be adjusted. We are doing it in phases. Not all the prices went up, some didn’t change, some are still below 50 per cent.”

A senior official at Globacom, who was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed that while the company had not yet rolled out the new tariffs, there was a possibility of an update before the close of business on Tuesday.

An executive at Airtel, who also spoke under the condition of anonymity, indicated that the tariff hike had been implemented across the industry.

“As far as I know, every operator has commenced. This is an industry-wide decision, not an operator decision. Our prices have never been uniform, and the decision was made collectively on Monday. Every operator must have begun, even if the rollout is not yet fully completed,” the executive told The PUNCH.

The House of Representatives intervention came after a motion of urgent public importance was raised by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Bayelsa State, Oboku Oforji during Tuesday’s plenary session.

The motion, titled “Need for the Nigerian Communications Commission not to approve the impending hike in the telecommunications tariffs,” sought to halt the tariff increase.

Oforji argued that while telecommunications companies justified the tariff hike by citing rising operational costs and the need for improved service delivery, the timing was particularly problematic given the economic hardship many Nigerians face.

He noted that inflation, which hit a record 34.6 per cent in November 2024, and the removal of fuel subsidies had already placed significant financial strain on citizens.

“The House is aware that telecom operators have been advocating for this hike for over eleven years,” Oforji said.

“However, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers has rejected the proposed increase, describing it as insensitive and a further burden on consumers who are already grappling with economic challenges and poor network service delivery.”

Oforji emphasised that the telcos must first address long-standing issues related to poor network service before implementing a price increase. He warned that the tariff hike would only exacerbate financial struggles for many Nigerians, deepening poverty and widening inequalities.

“Affordable connectivity is a must for progress in critical sectors like digital banking, education, healthcare, agriculture and e-governance,” stressing that “informal sector workers who depend on affordable mobile data to access gig work opportunities may find it harder to stay connected.”

He further argued that small businesses “which rely heavily on affordable telecommunication for operations, marketing, and customer engagement, will face additional financial burden.”

Oforji said, “It is estimated that a 10 per cent increase in telecommunications costs would reduce small business profitability up to 7 per cent, potentially leading to the closure of businesses.”

Another lawmaker from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called on the service providers to first improve the quality of their services before coming up with a hike in tariff.

“Why is it that when things go wrong in this country, the poor people must suffer? First, it was the electricity tariff, now it is the turn of the telecom companies. Nigerians must enjoy these services.

“In the developed world, people are not used to carrying two mobile phones but this is the practice here. The thinking is if there is no service in one, you might be lucky with the other one. I believe that this increase in tariff should wait until services improve,” he said.

Industry stakeholders, particularly the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, have defended the tariff increase, arguing that it is vital for the long-term sustainability of the sector.

The Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo highlighted that sustained underinvestment in the telecommunications sector could lead to an irreparable decline in services.

“I understand that a price review is necessary for the survival of the telecom sector,” Adebayo said on a call. “None of us can afford to see this sector collapse.

The inability to recover investments in the telecom industry has made sustainability increasingly difficult. When there is prolonged underinvestment, it becomes virtually impossible to recover.”

While acknowledging the public’s concerns about inflation and the high cost of data, Adebayo stressed that the tariff hike was driven by the urgent need to keep the industry afloat.


He expressed confidence that lawmakers, after fully assessing the situation, would come to understand the necessity of the adjustment.

“The public’s concerns are valid, but this tariff increase is essential for sustaining the sector,” he said.

The NCC announced the tariff hike on January 20, citing rising operational costs and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the telecommunications sector.

The commission, through its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, underscored that the decision aligns with its regulatory mandate under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

However, the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers voiced its opposition, threatening legal action against the approved tariff increase. NATCOMS argued that the hike be reversed to 10 per cent.

The Nigeria Labour Congress had also kicked against the increase, calling for the hike to be reversed to five per cent. The union led by its President, Joseph Ajaero threatened a protest on February 4, 2025, which eventually did not hold due to several interventions.

Nigerians have gone on social media to lament after they woke up to see that their mobile operators have increased tariffs.

This realisation caused a number of popular telcos to trend on social media.

Social media sers lamented that an internet bundle that used to be available for N2K for 15GB of data is
now N6,000 for the same 15GB of data.

Nigerians took to social media to lament this increase, while pointing out that the economic situation just keeps worsening by the day.

Recall that in January 2025, the NCC approved a request for tariff adjustment by operators after telcos' agitation for cost-reflective prices in the face of harsh economic conditions.

The NCC capped the increase at a maximum of 50% of the current tariffs, though lower than the over 100% requested by some network operators.

However, the current increase being experienced by users shows that the increase might have exceeded 50% in some cases.

“I heard that there was someone who lambasted me thoroughly. What is my offense? Because I asked my people to fast for 100 days. I didn't ask him oh! I didn't even ask anybody who isn't a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God to fast.

Only my children! God said that it would happen.

I was told that some people got angry and went to arrest the fellow. Release him. He is fulfilling prophecy”

Tech billionaire, Elon Musk and US President
Donald Trump have shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development tasked with humanitarian relief overseas after they agreed the organization was 'beyond repair'.

Musk, the head of Trump’s government efficiency initiative, reviewed the government agency with Trump's go-ahead and decided to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its Washington, D.C. offices.

According to Mail Online, staff were shocked when they woke up Monday morning to emails instructing them to stay out of the agency's D.C.u headquarters.

USAID staffers said they tracked 600 employees who reported being locked out of the agency's computer systems overnight.

Those still in the system received messages to
their work emails saying 'at the direction of
Agency leadership' the headquarters building
'will be closed to Agency personnel on Monday,
Feb. 3.'

'It became apparent that it's not an apple with a
worm it in,' Musk said of the six-decade U.S.
international aid and development agency. 'What we have is just a ball of worms. You've got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It's beyond repair.'

'We're shutting it down,' he said in the audio-
only appearance on X.

The Tesla and SpaceX boss noted in the announcement on his social media site that he spoke with Trump about the agency and they 'agreed we should shut it down.'

As of 2016, USAID reported that it had 10,235 employees on its payroll.

The website for USAID was also shut down as of
Monday morning.

The official government website for USAID and
any former links for the site's webpages now
shows a browser error message: 'This site can't
be reached.'

The message comes after the Trump
administration placed two top security chiefs at
USAID on leave after they refused to turn over
classified material in restricted areas to Musk's
government inspection teams, a U.S. official
revealed on Sunday.

“If your mother is a second wife, she was once a side chick, you don’t have any right to abuse side chicks or deny your husband a second wife.

Polygamy is the reason you exist,”

The National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Advisor, says at least 5,000
repented Boko Haram fighters have been
reunited with their families.

It says none of the ex-combatants returned to
the battle ground after six months of the
deradicalisation programme.

Amb. Mairo Musa Abbas, Head of Preventing
and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), stated this at the second-day session of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum.

She said deradicalization, rehabilitation and
reintegration programme for ex-Boko Haram
fighters, known as Operation Safe Corridor, had
reintegrated over 5,000 repented Boko Haram
into the society.

“Under Operation Safe Corridor programme, we have deradicalised over 5,000 ex-combatants of Boko Haram and reunited them with their families," she said.

“They are using the skills they have acquired in the six months of deradicalisation programme in the camp, to sustain themselves within the communities.

“Our collaborators from the National
Orientation Agency (NOA) are within 774 local governments in Nigeria and traditional & religious leaders within the community they have monitoring mechanism where are able to monitor this mechanism and see their progress after the reintegration within the community."

“Borno Model” a state-led strategy, which aimed at reintegrating individuals who left extremist groups like Boko Haram, hadu complemented the efforts of the federal government to promote peace in the country.

“We always said ‘Borno Model’ is a model of necessity but we have recorded a lot of success with the Model because many repented fighters, have been reunited with
families.”

She, however, called on the governors in the
Lake Chad region and stakeholders to harmonise their strategy to ensure that they work on the same level.