The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in collaboration with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), arrested 22 Nigerians in a coordinated operation in Lagos and Abuja on April 22, 2025, over their alleged involvement in a sextortion scheme linked to multiple teenage suicides in the United States.
The suspects, whose identities have not been fully disclosed pending ongoing investigations, were apprehended following intelligence-sharing between the EFCC and FBI, which traced the operation to Nigeria. The sextortion ring allegedly targeted young individuals, primarily teenage boys, by coercing them into sharing explicit images and then extorting money under threats of public exposure.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the syndicate operated through social media platforms, using fake profiles to lure victims into compromising situations. The FBI identified the scheme after investigating cases where at least three American teens died by suicide between 2023 and 2024, with one high-profile case involving a 17-year-old from Michigan who took his life after being extorted for $1,800. The joint operation recovered digital devices, cryptocurrency wallets containing over $500,000, and documents linking the suspects to victims across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The EFCC stated that the suspects face charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and conspiracy, with potential extradition to the U.S. for some.
The arrests highlight Nigeria’s growing role in global cybercrime, prompting the EFCC to intensify efforts to curb such activities, which have damaged the country’s international reputation. The operation has drawn praise from U.S. authorities, with FBI Director Christopher Wray commending the partnership as a model for tackling transnational crime. However, it has also sparked concerns in Nigeria about youth unemployment and lax regulation of digital platforms, which enable such schemes. The EFCC has urged parents to monitor their children’s online activities and announced plans for a nationwide cybercrime awareness campaign to prevent similar incidents.