Gift Wada
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), said it has received series of complaints from victims of sextortion who have been blackmailed with a plea for assistance
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, the agency on Tuesday also said it apprehended some members of a notorious cult known for perpetrating gruesome acts of sextortion and terrorizing young girls and other residents of the FCT and its environs.
The Director General of NAPTIP, Professor Fatima Waziri – Azi, said the arrest came as a response to several complaints by victims and other stakeholders of sextortion in Abuja
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 it is where 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).
Speaking on the development at the NAPTIP Headquarters, Abuja, Waziri – Azi, expressed grave concerns about the incremental cases of sextortion perpetrated by mostly young men against young girls within the FCT and called for increased vigilance among parents and stakeholders.
She explained, “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.”
Waziri-Azi advised young girls to be aware of this trend and protect themselves by reporting all cases of sextortion to NAPTIP.
“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,” she stated.