In a sweeping international operation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 22 Nigerian nationals in connection with a large-scale sextortion ring that has led to a series of teen suicides in the United States. The operation, codenamed Operation Artemis, was conducted in partnership with law enforcement agencies in Nigeria, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
According to an official statement released by the FBI, approximately half of the suspects arrested during the FBI sextortion bust involving Nigerians were directly linked to victims who tragically took their own lives after being extorted online.
FBI Director Kash Patel described the operation as a significant step in protecting vulnerable populations. “Operation Artemis exemplifies the FBI’s never-ending mission to protect our most vulnerable, and to pursue the heinous criminals harming our children—no matter where they hide,” he said. Patel stressed the importance of global cooperation in tackling this rising threat, urging parents to educate their children on the dangers of online interactions.
The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit (CEOU) and all 55 field offices across the United States collaborated to uncover nearly 3,000 victims during the course of the investigation. Many of the alleged perpetrators were found to be operating from Nigeria, prompting the deployment of FBI resources to the country.
One Nigerian suspect was extradited to the U.S. in January and charged in connection with the suicide of a teenager in South Carolina. Two other suspects had been extradited in 2024 for similar offenses linked to the suicide of a Pennsylvania teen. Authorities say several additional suspects remain in Nigeria and are awaiting extradition proceedings.
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The FBI sextortion bust involving Nigerians revealed that the suspects often posed as romantic interests on social media platforms to lure their victims—many of whom were teenagers—into sharing explicit photos. Once obtained, the images were used to blackmail the victims for money, with threats continuing even after payments were made. Victims were left feeling isolated, anxious, and in some cases, suicidal.
The FBI credited the success of Operation Artemis to the support of its field offices in cities including Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia, Houston, Jackson, Milwaukee, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Diego, and St. Louis. Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) also played critical roles in the investigation.
“This is a global issue that demands a united front,” Patel said. “We will continue to work hand-in-hand with our international partners to ensure those who exploit and endanger our children face justice.”
The FBI is urging parents to have open discussions with their children about online safety and encourages anyone who has experienced sextortion to report it through 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
The Bureau reminded the public that all defendants arrested in the FBI sextortion bust involving Nigerians remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
