The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced the arrest of 22 Nigerians accused of orchestrating a series of sextortion schemes that have resulted in the deaths of more than 20 teenage boys across the United States since 2021.
The arrests stemmed from Operation Artemis, a major collaborative effort involving law enforcement agencies from Nigeria, the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The operation followed a nearly two-year-long investigation into online sextortion networks that targeted teenage boys via social media platforms.
In a statement published on its website, the FBI revealed that the perpetrators posed as young women online to lure victims into sharing sexually explicit images. Once the images were obtained, the suspects allegedly extorted money from the victims by threatening to expose the images publicly.
The Bureau further stated that even after victims made payments, the threats often persisted, leading to devastating outcomes in some cases.
“This is not a victimless crime. These are real children suffering real consequences,” said Special Agent Karen R., who coordinated the FBI’s involvement in the operation.
The FBI emphasized its commitment to combating online exploitation and urged parents and guardians to educate young people about the dangers of sharing explicit content online.
