US, Nigeria step up war against sextortion, romance scams

The United States and Nigeria have heightened their efforts to combat transnational cybercrimes such as sextortion, romance scams, and other financially motivated offenses. This intensified collaboration followed a recent visit by the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Michael Gonzales, to Nigeria.

During his meetings with key officials from various Nigerian agencies, Gonzales emphasized the importance of international cooperation to keep pace with the rapid operations of cybercriminals across borders.

The discussions were timed with Nigeria's Cybercrime Awareness Week and focused on expanding joint operations against offenders behind sextortion and romance scams that exploit victims for financial gain. Gonzales stressed that recent extraditions, including two in August, demonstrate that criminals cannot evade justice by exploiting international boundaries.

The US and Nigeria have also strengthened intelligence sharing, investigations, and prosecutions, leading to a significant increase in extraditions since 2022, from four arrests and five extraditions to 41 extraditions and 41 arrests between 2012 and 2026.

The FBI's Legal Attaché Office in Abuja has assisted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 41 extraditions, with the number of extraditions increasing sharply compared to previous years. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported over 50,000 cases of sextortion in 2025, translating to about 137 reports daily.

The two countries are also addressing romance scams, which target victims' trust and financial assets through emotional manipulation. The Nigeria Police Force launched a nationwide online safety campaign to educate the public about these threats. Gonzales praised the EFCC for its high-profile prosecutions and asset recovery efforts and called for faster, more proactive cooperation to dismantle criminal networks. The ultimate goal is to build sustainable law enforcement capacity that benefits both nations.