Police Arrest Three Over Cyber Blackmail, Extortion Threats in Lagos
The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos has arrested three suspects over their alleged involvement in a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in which a woman was threatened with the release of her nude photographs unless she paid a ransom.
The arrests followed a petition filed by the victim, who reported that she had been receiving persistent threats and demands for money from unidentified individuals.
Confirming the development in a statement on Friday, the PSFU spokesperson, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, said the suspects—two men and one woman—were apprehended after police intervention.
According to Ewhubare, the victim was repeatedly contacted by the suspects through phone calls, during which they threatened to make her private photographs public if she failed to comply with their demands.
“Out of fear and emotional distress, the complainant transferred money to the suspects,” he said. “The situation later escalated when they demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police.”
Ewhubare explained that upon receiving the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered an immediate investigation, which led to the arrest of the three suspects.
Investigations revealed that one of the suspects unlawfully accessed the victim’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own phone. Further findings showed that he conspired with the other arrested suspects and other accomplices currently at large to extort and receive money from the victim in several instalments.
The suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, the police said.
Blessing Anolaba
Editorial & Creative Correspondent
A storyteller and journalist passionate about telling stories for policy change and impact.
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