Nigeria Extradites Sextortion Suspects to US

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) approved the extradition of two Nigerian nationals to the United States on Wednesday to face charges related to the online sexual extortion of American teenagers.

Investigators linked the suspects, Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle, to separate FBI probes into digital exploitation schemes targeting boys between the ages of 13 and 17.

The severe extortion demands directly resulted in the suicides of two victims.

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The EFCC revealed that in one instance, a suspect targeted a 13-year-old boy on Instagram, coaxing him into exchanging nude photos before threatening to publish the images to his contacts unless he paid.

Nigeria extradites sextortion suspects to the US (News Central TV) — Nigeria extradites sextortion suspects to the US. Credit: BBC News Pidgin

Court records show the perpetrator continued sending extortion messages even after the victim threatened self-harm.

The case highlights growing global scrutiny of Instagram’s parent company Meta, which pledged on Wednesday to restrict social media access for minors in the United States following intense pressure from government regulators over child safety.

Author

Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.