*The US Federal Bureau of Investigation nabs 22 Nigerians in a global sextortion crackdown, codenamed Operation Artemis, as authorities say almost half of those arrested were directly linked to victims who committed suicides

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

As part of offensive against financially-motivated sextortion crimes linked to teenage suicides in recent times in the country, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has apprehended 22 Nigerians in a global sextortion crackdown, codenamed Operation Artemis.

绿帽献妻 gathered the FBI, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from Nigeria, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, launched the unprecedented operation in response to the reported alarming rise in sextortion-related suicides the American country.

Authorities noted that nearly half of those arrested were directly linked to victims who had taken their own lives.

鈥淚n coordination with multiple law enforcement partners, the FBI conducted Operation Artemis鈥攁 surge of resources and personnel to Nigeria to address the high rate of sextortion related suicides attributed to Nigerian perpetrators.

The FBI, in a statement posted its Web site, said: 鈥淎s a result of Operation Artemis, FBI investigations led to the arrests of 22 Nigerian subjects connected to financially motivated sextortion schemes.

“Of those 22 subjects, approximately half were directly linked to victims who took their own lives.”

On sextortion and rise in teenage victims

The US secret police stated that it launched the operation amid a reported 30 percent increase in sextortion-related tips received by the FBI鈥檚 National Threat Operations Centre between October 2024 and March 2025, compared with the same period the previous year.

The FBI鈥檚 Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3) also indicated that over 54,000 victims were recorded in 2024, up from 34,000 in 2023, resulting in nearly $65 million in financial losses over the past two years.

The agency equally revealed that the perpetrators, operating largely from Nigeria, targeted young male victims, typically aged between 14 and 17, by posing as peers or potential romantic interests on social media platforms.

The FBI explained that after gaining trust, they coerced victims into sending compromising images, which were then used to extort money through threats of exposure.

Payment was often demanded via gift cards, mobile payment services, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

According to the agency, in several cases, the perpetrators continued to harass their victims regardless of whether payment was made, leaving victims feeling isolated, ashamed, and overwhelmed.

It is further noted that Operation Artemis investigations led to the extradition of a Nigerian man earlier this year to face charges in the United States over the death of a South Carolina teenager.

Two additional suspects had previously been extradited in connection with a similar case involving the death of a young man in Pennsylvania, in the US.

鈥淕iven the alarming rise and similarities of these cases, the FBI opened investigations across the country to bring answers and closure to grieving American families,” the statement noted.

Working through its Child Exploitation Operational Unit (CEOU), and 55 field offices nationwide, the FBI identified nearly 3,000 victims of financially motivated sextortion.

The operation was supported by the FBI鈥檚 Legal Attach茅 offices in Abuja and Lagos, as well as several domestic field offices, including those in Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia, Houston, Jackson, Milwaukee, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Diego, and St. Louis.

Vital assistance also came from the Department of Justice鈥檚 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

The Bureau noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also played a key role in the operation.

Advice to parents on child online safety

Following the latest development, the statement noted the FBI urged parents and guardians to maintain open conversations with their children about online safety.

They are encouraged to reassure young people that they are not at fault should they fall victim to sextortion schemes in cyberspace.

It said: 鈥淚f your child believes they are a victim of sextortion or financially motivated sextortion, please report it immediately to law enforcement or the FBI.”

The American secret police as well reminded the public, that 鈥渁n indictment is merely an allegation,鈥� and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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