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Mother narrates how her son was dead in six hours after Nigerian sextortion scammers hit him

Published

2 years ago

June 9, 2024

Mother narrates how her son was dead in six hours after Nigerian sextortion scammers hit him

Sextortion is the fastest-growing scam affecting teenagers globally and has been linked to more than 27 suicides in the US alone. Many of the scammers appear to be from Nigeria – where authorities are defending their actions and are under pressure to do more.

It has been two years since Jenn Buta’s son Jordan killed himself after being targeted by scammers who lured him into sending them explicit images of himself, and then tried to blackmail him.

She still can’t bring herself to change anything about his bedroom.

The 17-year-old’s basketball jerseys, clothes, posters and bedsheets are just how he left them.

The curtains are closed, and the door is shut to keep memories of him that only a parent would understand.

“It still smells like him. That’s one of the reasons I still have the door closed. I can still smell that sweat, dirt, cologne mix in this room. I’m just not ready to part with his stuff,” she said.

Jordan was contacted by sextortion scammers on Instagram.

They pretended to be a pretty girl his age and flirted with him, sending sexual pictures to coax him into sharing explicit photos of himself.

They then blackmailed him for hundreds of pounds to stop them sharing the pictures online to his friends.

Sextortion warning: In 6 hours, my son was dead

Samuel, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, arrested in Lagos, are awaiting sentencing in the US

Jordan sent as much money as he could and warned the sextortionists he would kill himself if they spread the images. The criminals replied: “Good… Do that fast – or I’ll make you do it.”

It was less than six hours from the time Jordan started communicating until the time he ultimately took his life.

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“There’s actually a script online,” Jenn told BBC News, from her home in Michigan, in the north of the US. “And these people are just going through the script and putting that pressure on.

“And they’re doing it quick, because then they can move on to the next person, because it’s about volume.”

The criminals were tracked to Nigeria, arrested, and then extradited to the US.

Two brothers from Lagos – Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20 – are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to child sexploitation charges. Another Nigerian man linked to Jordan’s death and other cases is fighting extradition.

Jordan’s mother, Jenn, has posted dozens of videos to raise awareness

Jordan’s tragic story has become a touch point in the fight against the growing problem of sextortion.

Jenn is a now high-profile campaigner on TikTok – using the account Jordan set up for her – to raise awareness about the dangers of sextortion to young people. Her videos have been liked more than a million times.

It’s feared that sextortion is under-reported due to its sensitive nature. But US crime figures show cases more than doubled last year, rising to 26,700, with at least 27 boys having killed themselves in the past two years.

Researchers and law enforcement agencies point to West Africa, and particularly Nigeria, as a hotspot for where attackers are based.

In April, two Nigerian men were arrested after a schoolboy from Australia killed himself. Two other men are on trial in Lagos, after the suicides of a 15-year-old boy in the US and a 14-year-old in Canada.

In January, US cyber-company Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) highlighted a web of Nigerian TikTok, YouTube and Scribd accounts sharing tips and scripts for sextortion. Many of the discussions and videos are in Nigerian Pidgin dialect.

It’s not the first time that Nigeria’s young tech-savvy population has embraced a new wave of cyber-crime.

The term Yahoo Boys is used to describe a portion of the population that use cyber-crime to earn a living. It comes from the early 2000s wave of Nigerian Prince scam emails which spread through the Yahoo email service.

Dr Tombari Sibe, from Digital Footprints Nigeria, says cyber-fraud such as sextortion has become normalised to young people in the country: “There’s also the big problem of unemployment and of poverty.

“All these young ones who don’t really have much – it’s become almost like a mainstream activity where they don’t really think too much about the consequences. They just see their colleagues making money.”

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African human rights charity Devatop has said the current methods of handling sextortion in Nigeria have failed to effectively curb the practice. And a report from NCRI said that celebrating sextortion crimes are an established part of the internet subculture in the country.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the director of Nigeria’s National Cyber Crime Centre (NCCC) defended his police force’s actions, and insisted it was working hard to catch criminals and deter others from carrying out attacks.

Uche Ifeanyi Henry said his officers were “hitting criminals hard” and said it is “laughable” that anyone should accuse Nigeria of not taking sextortion crime seriously.

Uche Ifeanyi Henry, the Director of Nigeria’s Cyber Crime Centre

Sextortion criminals are not only from Nigeria, Cyber Crime Centre director Uche Ifeanyi Henry says

“We are giving criminals a very serious hit. A lot have been prosecuted and a lot have been arrested,” he said. “Many of these criminals are moving to neighbouring countries now because of our activity.”

The NCCC director pointed to the fact that the government has spent millions of pounds on a state-of-the-art cyber-crime centre, to show it was taking cyber-crime seriously, especially sextortion.

He said Nigerian teenagers are also being targeted, and he argued that the criminals were not just a Nigerian problem, with other sextortionists in south-east Asia. Tackling them would require global support, he said.

With that in mind, the director and his technical team are this week visiting the UK’s National Crime Agency, which last month issued a warning to children and schools about a rise in sextortion cases.

The visit is designed to improve collaboration on sextortion and other cyber-crime investigations. It follows similar recent meetings with Japanese police.

Meanwhile, Jenn Buta continues to campaign alongside Jordan’s father John DeMay. They regularly give advice to young people who may become victims.

Advice that Jenn and many law enforcement agencies regularly give people targeted by sextortionists includes:

Remember you are not alone and this is not your fault
Report the predator’s account, via the platform’s safety feature
Block the predator from contacting you
Save the profile or messages – they can help law enforcement identify and stop the predator
Ask for help from a trusted adult or law enforcement before sending money or more images
Co-operating with the predator rarely stops the blackmail and harassment – but law enforcement can

Mother narrates how her son was dead in six hours after Nigerian sextortion scammers hit him

BBC

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Former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun Loses Husband, Niyi Adeosun

Published

4 minutes ago

August 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun and late Husband Adeniyi Adeosun

Former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun Loses Husband, Niyi Adeosun

The Adeosun family has announced the passing of Mr. Anthony Adeniyi (Niyi) Adeosun, husband of former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun. He died on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, in Lagos at the age of 62.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the family confirmed the news “with profound sorrow, yet in total submission to the will of Almighty God.” The announcement was signed by Reverend C. A. Adeosun on behalf of the family.

According to the family, the late Anthony Adeosun was a distinguished businessman and a devoted Christian whose life was marked by integrity, generosity and unwavering faith. His character and values earned him admiration from all who knew him, as he remained devoted to serving God while making lasting contributions to his family and community. “Niyi was a distinguished businessman and a devoted Christian whose integrity, generosity, and steadfast faith touched the lives of all who knew him. He lived a life defined by hard work, service to God, and an unwavering commitment to his family and community,” the family’s statement read.

The deceased is survived by his wife, former Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun; his cherished children; and his siblings, including Mr. Adewale (Wale) Adeosun, founder of Kuramo Capital Management, a leading African private equity firm with over $500 million under management. He is also survived by numerous other relatives, friends and associates.

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While mourning his death, the family said it was comforted by its Christian faith and the assurance of eternal rest for believers. They cited Revelation 14:13, which says: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

The family has appealed to the public to respect its privacy as it mourns the loss, noting that details of the funeral and Christian burial arrangements would be announced in due course. The family also expressed appreciation to friends, associates and well-wishers who had reached out with prayers, condolences and support since the news of his passing. “We thank all who have reached out with prayers, condolences, and support. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Lord,” the statement added.

Mrs. Kemi Adeosun served as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2018 under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari. During her tenure, she spearheaded a number of fiscal reforms, including the Whistle-blower policy, the Treasury Single Account (TSA), and the Efficiency Unit, which helped recover billions of naira and improve transparency in public finance. She has since devoted herself to philanthropy, focusing on uplifting vulnerable children and supporting the less privileged.

Former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun Loses Husband, Niyi Adeosun

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176 Kwara Abductees Regain Freedom After Six Months in Captivity

Published

19 minutes ago

August 6, 2026

Trends Admin

176 Kwara Abductees Regain Freedom After Six Months in Captivity

The Kwara State Government has confirmed the release of 176 residents abducted during the February 3, 2026 attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area, bringing an end to nearly six months of captivity for the victims. The development was announced on Wednesday through a post on the state government’s official Facebook page by Olayinka Fafoluyi, media aide to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. The statement expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security forces for their role in securing the victims’ freedom. “Alhamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!” the statement read.

The victims, who spent 183 days in captivity following their abduction during one of the deadliest attacks in Kwara State’s history, were rescued on Wednesday in what officials described as a joint security operation. Confirming the development, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kwara State, Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, disclosed that the victims were being held at the Wawa Military Cantonment in neighbouring Niger State pending their transportation back to Kwara. “Yes, it’s true that they have been released, and I can’t tell for now whether ransom was paid or not. They are currently in Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger State because our people are not the only victims released. The Office of the Secretary to the State Government is currently arranging vehicles that will bring them to Ilorin,” Danladi stated.

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The victims were abducted when suspected Boko Haram-linked extremists invaded the rural communities of Woro and Nuku on motorcycles, launching a coordinated assault that reportedly lasted for several hours. The attack, regarded as one of the deadliest in the state’s history, reportedly claimed more than 200 lives, left several others injured, destroyed homes and businesses, and displaced many residents. Local vigilantes who attempted to resist the attackers were reportedly overwhelmed, with some allegedly trapped and burnt inside their operational office. In April, a video circulated on social media showing one of the abducted women appealing to the Kwara State Government to intensify efforts to secure their release. Speaking from captivity alongside fellow victims, the woman disclosed that the group included pregnant women, young children and sick persons. “We are from Woro in Kaiama local government. We were taken on February 3, and today is April 8. This is the last opportunity they have given us,” she said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Communications, Ibraheem Abdullateef, commended the efforts of security agencies and other stakeholders involved in the operation. He also expressed the state government’s appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and security personnel for their joint roles in securing the victims’ freedom. The member representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Saidu Baba Ahmed, described the release as a major relief. “Yes, the Woro kidnap victims have been released. I’m very, very excited about this development. We give thanks to President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and our security operatives,” the lawmaker said. However, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, said he was yet to receive official confirmation when contacted. “I’m not aware, so I cannot confirm it. I made contacts to Kaiama Local Government; still, I couldn’t get concrete information,” the police commissioner stated.

Authorities have not disclosed the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release, including whether any rescue operation, negotiation or ransom payment led to their freedom. However, top sources in the Kwara State Government and State Security Service indicated that negotiations took place, though they did not mention whether payments were made. Last Friday, Chairman Danladi had dismissed claims that the government had abandoned the abducted residents, stating, “We have not forgotten them. We are collaborating with the state government to get them rescued. But this is a security matter and we cannot disclose everything on the pages of newspapers.” He had expressed confidence that the victims would soon regain their freedom.

176 Kwara Abductees Regain Freedom After Six Months in Captivity

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Nigerian Army Places N60m Bounty on Wanted ISWAP Leaders

Published

37 minutes ago

August 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigerian Army Places N60m Bounty on Wanted ISWAP Leaders

The Nigerian Army has declared two senior leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) wanted, placing a combined N60 million bounty on their heads following a major intelligence breakthrough in the Lake Chad region. The military identified the terrorist commanders after troops recovered and conducted forensic analysis on technical devices, including a camcorder used by ISWAP fighters to record propaganda videos and document their operations.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) recovered several technical devices and high-value intelligence materials during recent offensive operations against ISWAP/ISIS terrorists in northern Borno State. Forensic exploitation of the recovered devices generated actionable intelligence, leading to the identification of terrorist locations and senior commanders operating within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis along the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State. According to Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer of the Northeast Joint Taskforce Operation Hadin Kai, the intelligence haul is one of the most significant breakthroughs in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign.

The military has identified several senior ISWAP leaders and key operatives, including Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, who serves as the Wali (Governor of ISIS West Africa Province) and is described as the most wanted terrorist leader currently operating within the Lake Chad Basin. His deputy, Muhammad Jidda, also known as Amirul Jaish or “The One-Handed Man,” serves as the Commander of the Jaish unit. Other identified commanders include Hamad Abu Hanifa, the Amirul-Fiya (field commander) of ISWAP, and Ibn Muhammad, who commands the Amniyya unit. The intelligence poster released by the military contains photographs and aliases of at least 38 suspected ISWAP commanders and fighters believed to be active across northern Borno and the Lake Chad region.

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The military has placed specific bounties on the wanted terrorist leaders, with N50 million offered for Ibn Muhammad, the Commander of the Amniyya unit, and N10 million for Muhammad Jidda, the Commander of the Jaish unit. Operation Hadin Kai has specifically drawn public attention to Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, the ISWAP Wali, who remains the most wanted terrorist leader operating within the Lake Chad Basin. The military will offer a substantial financial reward to anyone whose credible and actionable information directly leads to his arrest.

The military has urged members of the public to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations by providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in locating and apprehending these suspected terrorist operatives. All information received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and the identity of informants will be fully protected in accordance with established security procedures. Citizens are strongly advised not to confront or attempt to apprehend the suspected terrorists under any circumstances. Information can be reported through established security reporting channels or via the dedicated hotline at 0708 498 8859.

The recovery of the camcorder and other technical devices represents a significant blow to ISWAP’s propaganda machinery and command structure. The military believes that denying the insurgents anonymity will disrupt their ability to move, recruit, tax communities and stage attacks. This development follows a broader pattern of pressure on ISWAP’s media and command wings, as in recent related operations, Operation Hadin Kai reportedly killed Abu Salim al-Barnawi, a senior propagandist and former raid commander, during a failed attack in Cross Kauwa. The public release of names, photographs and aliases suggests the military is now pursuing a strategy to deny ISWAP the anonymity it needs to operate effectively in the region.