The United States Consulate in Lagos and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have called for closer collaboration and enhanced information sharing with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of efforts to combat sextortion, cybercrime and other transnational financial crimes.
The appeal was made during a courtesy visit by the Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the United States Consulate, Special Supervisory Agent (SSA) James Smith, and SSA Thomas Pepper of the FBI Cyber Division Headquarters to the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Bawa Kaltungo.
The meeting, which took place on Monday, was disclosed in a statement published by the anti-graft agency on its official X account on Tuesday.
READ RELATED STORY
EFCC Chairman: Yahoo boys stole N7.2m from serving Judge overnight
EFCC arrests ex-power minister Saleh Mamman
According to the EFCC, the visit formed part of ongoing efforts by both countries to strengthen cooperation in tackling cyber-enabled crimes that transcend national borders.
During the meeting, the US officials commended the EFCC for its investigative capacity and sustained efforts in combating sextortion and other forms of transnational financial crime.
Speaking during the engagement, Smith said the primary objective of the visit was to reinforce the existing partnership between the United States Consulate and the EFCC, particularly in the area of intelligence and information sharing.
“The visit aimed to strengthen the existing collaboration between the U.S. Consulate and the Commission, particularly in the area of information sharing in combating criminal activities involving both Nigerians and foreigners,” Smith said.
He noted that stronger cooperation between both agencies would improve the investigation and prosecution of criminal networks operating across international borders.
Responding on behalf of the commission, Kaltungo welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to working closely with international law enforcement agencies in addressing cybercrime and financial fraud.
“I thank you for the visit and assure you of our utmost cooperation where necessary,” Kaltungo said.
The EFCC stated that the meeting underscored the shared commitment of Nigeria and the United States to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against sextortion, cybercrime, online fraud and other transnational financial offences.
The renewed collaboration comes amid growing international concern over the rise in financially motivated sextortion schemes targeting young people, particularly in the United States.
In April 2025, the FBI announced the arrest of 22 Nigerians allegedly linked to a global sextortion network accused of targeting teenagers through social media and online messaging platforms.
The arrests formed part of Operation Artemis, a multinational law enforcement initiative launched in 2023 following thousands of reports involving teenage boys who were allegedly coerced into sending sexually explicit images before being blackmailed with threats of public exposure unless they paid money.
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), more than 34,000 victims of sextortion were recorded in 2023, with the figure rising to over 54,000 victims in 2024. The agency estimated that financial losses from the crime totalled nearly 65 million dollars over the two-year period.
The FBI has also linked financially motivated sextortion schemes to more than 20 teenage suicides in the United States since 2021, highlighting the devastating emotional and psychological consequences of the crime.
Authorities in both Nigeria and the United States say enhanced intelligence sharing, coordinated investigations and stronger international partnerships remain essential to dismantling transnational cybercrime syndicates and protecting vulnerable individuals from online exploitation.
