Authorities have charged two men in Nigeria following a horrific case of sextortion that led to an Australian boy taking his life. According to a media release, police initiated an investigation into the alleged sextortion of a teen boy in 2023. It is believed the young boy committed suicide as a result of the threats.
NSW Police say the initial inquiries indicate that the boy was engaging with an unknown individual online. The individual threatened to share personal photos of the boy unless he paid $500. Local police handled the case until it was referred to the State Crime Command’s Cybercrime Squad.
Detectives with the Cybercrime Squad traced the accused to Nigeria before obtaining help from the Australian Federal Police. Detectives learned last month that two young males located in a Nigerian slum had been arrested and charged over the alleged sextortion offenses. NSW Police say the males will be prosecuted locally where authorities have the power to prosecute for Australian-based offenses.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.