US and Nigeria Enhance Fight Against Cybercrime and Sextortion

Nigeria and the United States have intensified their joint offensive against sextortion, romance scams, and other transnational cybercrimes. This follows the extradition of two alleged Nigerian cybercriminals to the US over separate cases involving American minors who reportedly died by suicide.

The renewed cooperation was highlighted during a visit to Abuja by Michael Gonzales, the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Gonzales met with senior officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The discussions aimed to expand joint investigations and disrupt financially motivated cyber threats. Gonzales emphasized the need for stronger international cooperation to keep pace with cybercriminals.

The US Embassy noted that Nigeria had extradited two alleged cybercriminals in August, and since 2022, the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Abuja has collaborated on 41 extraditions, including five in 2026.