The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, says it has dismantled a notorious Sextortion cult that has been carrying out gruesome acts and terrorizing young girls within the Federal Capital Territory.
Sextortion is a crime that occurs when someone threatens to distribute nude photographs and private videos of another person when that person refuses to grant them sexual favours or pay them money. The crime is regarded as sexual exploitation, as the perpetrator uses coercion and threats to compel the victim to produce sexual images or videos engaging in sexual acts, and is punishable under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 (as re-enacted).
According to NAPTIP, members of the cult in Abuja have been arrested and are currently in custody and NAPTIP has urged anyone who has fallen victim to this cult or any form of human trafficking to come forward and report the incident to the agency.
NAPTIP says the arrests followed an intense surveillance and undercover operation ordered by the Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri–Azi, in response to several complaints by victims and other stakeholders, saying the agency has recently been inundated by a series of complaints from victims of sextortion who have been blackmailed.
Speaking at the NAPTIP Headquarters in Abuja, Prof. Waziri–Azi, expressed grave concerns about the incremental cases of sextortion perpetrated mostly by young men against young girls within the FCT, and called for increased vigilance among parents and stakeholders.
She said: “After the criminals get videos or pictures, they threaten to publish, or threaten violence, to get the victim to produce more images. The shame, fear & confusion victims feel when caught in this cycle often prevent them from asking for help or reporting the abuse.”
Prof. Waziri-Azi advised young girls to be aware of this trend and protect themselves by reporting all cases of sextortion to the agency.
“Do not be afraid to speak up. Do not be gaslighted into thinking it was your fault. It is a crime and a crime against you. Report all perpetrators. If you do not report, you are emboldening these criminals and what happened to you will definitely happen to someone else.”
She urged parents to support their children if they report cases of sextortion, saying that such children should not be reviled as a lapse in judgment should not lead to condemnation.
The NAPTIP DG concluded by saying that, “If you or someone you know is a sextortion victim, you can help stop the harassment by reporting it to NAPTIP. Save all conversations, chats or messages between yourself and the perpetrator.”
Cases of sextortion have been on the increase in different parts of the country and have even been found common among ex-lovers who try to exploit their victims with photos or videos taken when the going was good.
Each day we hear new things. Nude video and pictures is increasingly used as a weapon on extortion shame and intimidation against women. I am happy that NAPTIP is curbing the trend.