American Officials Laud EFCC’s Effectiveness as Sextortion Cases Surge, Linked to 20+ Teen Suicides in US
The United States Consulate in Lagos and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have called for enhanced information sharing with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to intensify the fight against sextortion and other transnational financial crimes.
The request came during a courtesy visit by Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché SSA James Smith and SSA Thomas Pepper of the FBI Cyber Division Headquarters to the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, ACE I Bawa Kaltungo, on Monday.
The US officials commended the anti-graft agency for its investigative effectiveness and sustained efforts in combating sextortion and cross-border financial crimes.
Smith emphasized that the visit aimed to strengthen existing collaboration, particularly in intelligence sharing, to tackle criminal activities involving both Nigerians and foreigners.
Responding, Kaltungo assured the delegation of the commission’s continued cooperation, stating, “I thank you for the visit and assure you of our utmost cooperation where necessary.”
The Growing Crisis
The push for stronger ties comes amid a staggering rise in sextortion cases globally. In April 2025, the FBI arrested 22 Nigerians allegedly involved in a financially motivated sextortion scheme linked to more than 20 teen suicides in the United States since 2021.
Those arrests were part of Operation Artemis, a first-of-its-kind global operation launched in 2023 following thousands of reports of teen boys being coerced into sharing sexually explicit photos and then extorted for money.
Alarming Statistics:
· 2023: Over 34,000 sextortion victims reported to FBI’s IC3
· 2024: More than 54,000 victims
· Financial losses: Nearly $65 million over the past two years
· Minors targeted (2021-2023): Over 12,600, mostly boys
The EFCC noted that the engagement underscores both countries’ commitment to strengthening cooperation against sextortion, cybercrime, and other transnational financial crimes.
