Nigeria and US Enhance Cybercrime Cooperation with 41 Extraditions Since 2022

Nigeria and the United States are working together to combat cybercrime, resulting in 41 extraditions since 2022. This collaboration involves the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The announcement came after a visit to Abuja by Michael Gonzales, a US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

During his visit, Gonzales met with top Nigerian officials to discuss ways to enhance their joint efforts against crimes like sextortion and romance scams. These discussions coincided with Nigeria’s Cybercrime Awareness Week and included officials from various Nigerian agencies.

The US statement highlighted that the 41 extraditions facilitated through the FBI’s office in Abuja include five that were completed this year. This marks a significant increase compared to the four arrests and five extraditions recorded from 2012 to 2021.

In August, Nigeria extradited two alleged cybercriminals to the US, who are facing charges related to sextortion cases involving American minors. The US official praised the contributions of Nigerian authorities in these investigations and emphasized the need to tackle entire criminal networks.

The US government has identified sextortion as a growing threat, especially to young people. In 2025, there were over 50,000 reports of such crimes. The FBI has noted that Nigeria and parts of West Africa are key locations for these criminal networks.

In addition to sextortion, the two countries are also addressing romance scams, which can lead to significant financial losses for victims. The Nigeria Police Force has launched a campaign to raise awareness about various cybercrimes, including these scams.

This cooperation is part of a broader security partnership between Nigeria and the US, which includes discussions on counterterrorism and intelligence sharing. The US has identified improving information sharing and investigation processes as priorities for future collaboration.