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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Nigeria and the United States have intensified their collaboration against international cybercrime networks, particularly those involved in sextortion, romance scams and other internet-enabled financial crimes, with both countries seeking faster investigations, more extraditions and coordinated action against criminal syndicates operating across national borders.
The renewed commitment followed the visit of the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Michael Gonzales, to Abuja, where he held talks with senior Nigerian security and law enforcement officials on strengthening cooperation against transnational criminal activities.
The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, in a statement issued in Abuja, disclosed that the visit coincided with Nigeria’s Cybercrime Awareness Week and provided an opportunity for both countries to review existing partnerships and identify measures to strengthen investigations, intelligence sharing, arrests and prosecution of suspected cybercriminals.
Gonzales met with officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigeria Police Force (NPF), with discussions focusing particularly on financially motivated sextortion, romance scams and other forms of transnational cybercrime.
The Mission said the United States was seeking stronger collaboration with Nigerian authorities to dismantle criminal networks that exploit digital platforms to defraud victims, extort money and target vulnerable individuals, including children.
“They discussed ways to expand joint efforts against financially motivated sextortion, romance scams, and other transnational cybercrime,” the statement said.
“Noting how cybercrime can cross borders in seconds, DAS Gonzales challenged U.S. and Nigerian counterparts to ensure that cooperation to fight such criminality also does the same.
“Recent extraditions demonstrate that when the United States and Nigeria combine investigative, diplomatic, and law-enforcement capabilities, international borders do not provide sanctuary to those who prey on our citizens.”
Highlighting the results of existing cooperation, the Mission disclosed that Nigeria extradited two suspected cybercriminals to the United States in August to face charges in separate financially motivated sextortion cases involving American minors who subsequently died by suicide.
It said the cases demonstrated the devastating consequences of online sexual extortion and the importance of international cooperation in identifying and bringing suspected perpetrators to justice.
According to the Mission, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through its Legal Attaché Office at the United States Embassy in Abuja, has worked with the EFCC on 41 extraditions since 2022, including five completed in 2026.
The Mission described the development as a significant improvement in bilateral law enforcement cooperation compared with the period between 2012 and 2021, when the two countries recorded only four arrests and five extraditions.
It attributed the progress to closer collaboration among investigative agencies, prosecutors and diplomatic institutions in both countries, particularly in tracking suspects, gathering evidence and navigating complex extradition procedures.
Gonzales acknowledged the contributions of the EFCC, Federal Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to United States investigations and extradition proceedings, stressing that prompt prosecution and appropriate punishment could discourage criminal activities.
“He emphasized how expeditious and public action holding criminals meaningfully to account can also play a significant role in deterring criminals from preying on victims,” the Mission stated.
On the growing threat of sextortion, the United States Mission expressed concern over the increasing number of children and families affected by criminals who obtain intimate images or other compromising materials and threaten to expose victims unless money is paid.
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It disclosed that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 50,000 reports of financially motivated sextortion in 2025, representing approximately 137 reports daily.
The Mission said the FBI had identified Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, alongside Southeast Asia, among locations where some of the most prevalent sextortion networks had operated.
It explained that through Operation Artemis and related initiatives, the FBI was working with Nigerian authorities to identify, investigate and disrupt criminal networks targeting Americans.
“The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 50,000 reports of financially motivated sextortion in 2025, about 137 reports every day,” the Mission said.
“The FBI identifies Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, as well as Southeast Asia, among the locations where the most prevalent sextortion networks have operated. Through Operation Artemis and related efforts, the FBI works with Nigerian authorities to identify and disrupt the networks targeting Americans.”
Beyond sextortion, the Mission said both countries were also strengthening their response to romance scams, in which fraudsters exploit emotional relationships and personal trust to obtain money from unsuspecting victims.
It noted that such schemes could wipe out victims’ life savings and retirement funds, making them a major concern for law enforcement agencies.
The Mission recalled that the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre launched a nationwide online safety and cyber-hygiene campaign in March to educate Nigerians about romance scams, sextortion, phishing, identity theft and business email compromise.
It said public awareness, preventive measures and stronger investigative cooperation were essential to protecting individuals and businesses against increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal networks.
During his engagement with the EFCC, Gonzales commended the agency’s record in economic crime enforcement, describing it as one of Africa’s most recognised institutions in the field, particularly in high-profile prosecutions, asset recovery and public engagement.
He said the EFCC’s partnership with the FBI demonstrated the importance of effective international law enforcement cooperation through intelligence sharing, suspect identification, arrests and extradition proceedings.
According to him, some recent cases had taken years of joint investigative and diplomatic efforts, reflecting the commitment of institutions in both countries to ensuring that suspected criminals were brought before the courts.
He, however, stressed the need to make such cooperation faster, more routine and proactive, arguing that law enforcement agencies should move beyond pursuing individual suspects to dismantling the wider networks and financial structures sustaining cybercrime.
“Some recent cases took years of joint effort, which reflects institutional commitment on both sides. Both countries would benefit from making this cooperation faster, more routine, and increasingly proactive,” the Mission quoted him as saying.
“That means moving beyond individual cases to target networks, financial infrastructure, and facilitators before more victims are harmed.”
The renewed collaboration is expected to strengthen coordination between Nigerian and American law enforcement agencies in tracking transnational cybercriminal networks, disrupting their financial operations and pursuing suspects across international borders.
