The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has arrested members of a notorious sextortion syndicate in the federal capital territory (FCT).
The Director-General of agency, Fatima Waziri-Azi who spoke on Tuesday described the arrest as a breakthrough. She added that the arrest followed intense surveillance and undercover operation in response to several complaints from victims and stakeholders.
According to her, the arrest was a record for the agency in its efforts to address issues of sextortion as the group was known for terrorising young girls and other residents of the FCT.
She explained that, “Sextortion is a crime that occurs when someone threatens to distribute nudes and private videos of another person when that person refuses to grant them sexual favours or pay them money.
“It is sexual exploitation as the perpetrator uses coercion and threats to compel the victim to produce sexual images or videos engaging in sexual acts and this act is punishable under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 (as re-enacted)”.
The NAPTIP DG said, “After the criminals have one or more videos or pictures, they threaten to publish that content, or they threaten violence to get the victim to produce more images.
“The shame, fear, and confusion victims feel when caught in this cycle often prevent them from asking for help or reporting the abuse.”
She called for increased vigilance among parents and encouraged victims of sextortion to speak up and report such cases.
