2 Nigerians, Filipino nabbed for love scam

MANILA, Philippines — Police have arrested two Nigerian nationals and their Filipino cohort over a love scam that allegedly duped a 64-year-old woman of P3.23 million.

The victim claimed that she got into a relationship with Evans Amara Okeke, 26, who had introduced himself as an engineer named Michael Gerard, after she met him online.

Okeke told her he was arriving soon in the Philippines for a contract to build a mall in La Union. But he kept citing financial difficulties, prompting the victim to send him money.

Also arrested were Chidibere Junior Ezema, 25, also from Nigeria, and their Filipino accomplice, Judy Ann Japitana, 23.

—Jeannette I. Andrade