How 80-Year-Old American Woman was Kidnapped by Nigerian Gang in Ghana
An 80-year-old American woman, Diana Christine Nelson, had her dreams shattered when a romantic trip to Ghana turned into a nightmare. After traveling over 10,000 kilometers from the U.S. to meet her online lover in Accra, she became the victim of a kidnapping orchestrated by a Nigerian criminal gang.
Diana, from Crestline, California, had met a man on Facebook who she believed to be Mark Harmon, the famous American actor. However, the person behind the profile was actually Emmanuel Adeboye, a Nigerian criminal now considered the prime suspect in a widespread romance scam.
Despite her son, Blake Medina, warning her about the scam, Diana was swept up in the emotional connection she thought she had with “Mark.” The relationship intensified over time, and by June 2024, Diana was back in contact with the man, despite her son’s pleas to stay away. Adeboye continued to send love messages, further manipulating her emotions.
Things took a darker turn when Diana asked her son to send $200 to her bank account, with Adeboye threatening her that it might be the last time she spoke to her son. Soon after, a realtor named Khalil Dave appeared, claiming he was hired to sell Diana’s house in Crestline. He showed a photoshopped image of Diana with “Mark Harmon” and insisted the sale proceed. Dave was briefly arrested but it was unclear whether he was knowingly involved in the scam.
By now, Blake Medina had become convinced that his mother was being held against her will. She was supposed to return to the U.S. on December 4, but had not made it back. Medina contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, who in turn alerted the FBI.
The FBI coordinated with the Ghana Police Service, and a rescue operation was put in motion. They devised a plan to bait the kidnappers using Diana’s credit card. On December 11, a withdrawal was made at an ATM, and law enforcement quickly moved in, tracking the transaction. This led to the arrest of Adeboye and another accomplice, Esther. Authorities believe the rest of the gang members will soon be apprehended.
Diana’s harrowing experience has shed light on the dangers of online romance scams, and the resilience of both law enforcement and her family in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
