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BREAKING NEWS: WOMEN WHO COLLECT TRANSPORT FARE FROM MEN WITHOUT SHOWING UP RISK JAIL, POLICE WARN
Port Harcourt, Rivers State — The Rivers State Police Command has sparked widespread debate after issuing a stern caution against a practice that has quietly spread across social spaces in Nigeria: women collecting transport money from men for a supposed visit, only to fail to show up. According to the Command, such an act is more than a mere breach of trust — it is a crime under the nation’s criminal laws, one that falls under the offence of “obtaining money under false pretence,” popularly referred to as 419.
This statement, delivered by the Command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, has since set off intense conversations both online and offline. The police spokesperson was categorical: “Collecting transport fare from a man without actually going to see him is obtaining by false pretence. It is fraud. It is punishable under the law.”
The warning has come at a time when Nigeria is witnessing new forms of social behaviour driven by digital platforms, online dating, and changing relationship dynamics. While some may laugh about it or call it “cruise,” the police are now making it clear that such behaviour can carry real legal consequences.
The Police Standpoint
SP Iringe-Koko explained that under Nigerian law, anyone who collects money with the promise of performing an action but deliberately fails to fulfil that promise can be prosecuted for fraud. She likened the conduct to classic 419 scams, where people deceive others to part with money.
She stressed that the gender of the offender does not matter. Whether it is a woman or man, once transport fare is collected under a false promise of showing up and that promise is deliberately broken, the law considers it an offence.
“It is not just about money for fuel or taxi,” she said. “It is about intention. If you never planned to honour the visit, then you have obtained that money fraudulently. That is deception, and deception is a crime.”
The Rivers State Police Command urged members of the public, especially young men, not to treat this as a trivial matter. Victims, they said, are free to report cases, and offenders, if found guilty, risk facing prosecution and possible jail terms.
Why the Police Spoke Out
Observers believe the Command issued this statement because of the rising number of complaints linked to romantic scams, petty frauds, and manipulations disguised as relationships. In the age of smartphones, men and women often meet through social media, develop quick conversations, and exchange gifts or money. However, some have turned this into an avenue to exploit others.
In Port Harcourt and across other Nigerian cities, it has become common to hear young men complain that they sent money to women for transport, only for those women to disappear after receiving the cash. What started as jokes on Twitter and Facebook gradually became a pattern. Many laughed it off as harmless, but police authorities say it is not a laughing matter.
SP Iringe-Koko explained that ignoring such acts would only encourage more deceit and even bigger fraud schemes. By categorising this behaviour as “obtaining by false pretence,” the police are signalling that the law will not turn a blind eye.
Public Reactions
The warning has gone viral, attracting sharp responses from Nigerians. On social media platforms, thousands have shared their opinions. Some praised the police for recognising a behaviour that many men have long considered unfair, while others dismissed the statement as unnecessary.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote:
“Finally! This nonsense of collecting TFare without showing up should end. It is fraud, plain and simple.”
Another argued:
“Of all the problems Nigeria is facing, it is this one the police want to fight? What about insecurity, robbery, and kidnapping? They should focus on real crimes.”
Women’s rights advocates also entered the conversation. Some expressed fears that the warning could be misused by men to harass women. A Port Harcourt-based activist explained that there must be clear evidence of intention before prosecution. According to her, sometimes plans genuinely change, and not every failure to show up is a fraud.
This, she said, is where the law must draw a line between an innocent change of plan and deliberate deception.
Legal Background
Under Nigerian law, the crime of obtaining money under false pretence is provided for in Section 419 of the Criminal Code Act. The law states that any person who, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtains from another any property or money is guilty of a felony.
The punishment for such an offence can range from years of imprisonment to fines, depending on the circumstances and the amount involved. In more serious cases, offenders can face up to seven years in prison.
This is the same section of law that is used against “Yahoo Boys” — internet fraudsters who scam people online. By equating the act of collecting transport fare without showing up to 419, the police are essentially saying that the behaviour is a small-scale version of fraud.
Cultural Context
For years, Nigerian men have complained about being tricked into sending money for transport that was never used for any visit. Popularly called “Tfare” online, the money is usually requested as a condition before a woman agrees to meet. In many cases, men pay willingly, hoping to build trust.
But once the money is received, the promised visit is cancelled, and the woman either cuts communication or gives endless excuses. Among peers, this is often dismissed as a joke or playful “runs,” but for those who lose money, it is a form of heartbreak mixed with financial loss.
The police now want society to stop normalising such behaviour. By calling it a crime, they are hoping to discourage people from treating it as harmless fun.
Implications for Society
This warning could reshape how young men and women interact in Nigeria. For one, it could make men more cautious about sending money in advance. It could also push women to think twice before accepting money without commitment.
Legal experts say the move is likely to spark more debates in courtrooms if reported cases emerge. They note that for prosecution to succeed, the man must prove that the woman had no intention of honouring the visit from the start. That, they say, can be hard to establish without clear evidence, such as chats or voice notes showing deceit.
Still, the broader implication is cultural. Many Nigerians now realise that behaviours they once considered “street smart” or “sharp girl vibes” may actually be criminal.
The Online Gender War
The announcement has intensified the so-called “gender war” online. Men argue that they finally have legal backing against manipulation. Women, on the other hand, say many men use the issue of transport money to demand access to their bodies, and that women should not be criminalised for refusing visits.
Some also noted that men are not always innocent. There are cases where men collect money from women under false promises of love, marriage, or partnership, only to disappear. Critics say the police must apply the law equally in such cases.
Possible Misuse
A major concern is the potential abuse of the warning. Some men may use it to intimidate women who simply changed their minds. Human rights groups have urged the police to apply caution, investigate thoroughly, and avoid criminalising genuine cancellations.
They argue that criminal law should not be used to police social interactions or relationships, but only to address clear cases of deliberate fraud.
Police Clarification
Following the backlash, police sources emphasised that they are not targeting women specifically. The law applies to anyone, male or female, who collects money under false pretences. They advised citizens to exercise discretion in giving money and to ensure that evidence exists before lodging complaints.
The Command also explained that the intention was not to ridicule anyone but to highlight that fraud, no matter how small, is still fraud.
A Broader Lesson
This development shows how society evolves and how the law adapts to new social realities. What once seemed like harmless behaviour is now being re-examined under the lens of fraud and deception. For young people, the message is simple: honesty matters, and the law will not excuse deceit disguised as play.
Whether or not prosecutions will follow remains to be seen, but the warning alone has already achieved one thing — sparking a nationwide conversation. From campuses to corporate offices, Nigerians are now debating where to draw the line between humour and crime, between play and fraud.
Conclusion
The Rivers State Police Command has thrown a spotlight on a cultural trend long treated as casual. By declaring that collecting transport money and failing to show up is fraud, the police are saying society must no longer dismiss deception in relationships as “cruise.”
While some dismiss the warning as unnecessary, others welcome it as long overdue. What is clear is that Nigerians are now paying attention, and the law has drawn a line that cannot be ignored.
The days ahead will reveal whether this warning becomes a turning point in social behaviour or remains a viral headline. But for now, the message is loud and clear: collect money under false pretence, and you could end up in jail.
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Thursday, September 4, 2025
