Nigeria extradites two to US on fatal sextortion claims

Nigeria's anti-corruption agency said Friday it had approved the extradition of Mudashiru Afeez Olawale and Adebola Festus Adekunle to the United States to face prosecution over alleged sexual extortion of teenage boys.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said the two Nigerian nationals are accused of sexually extorting two teenage boys in the United States, resulting in their deaths.

The EFCC said Olawale and Adekunle were identified in separate FBI investigations into sexual extortion of young males, mostly aged between 13 and 17.

In one case, the FBI said a 13-year-old boy received an Instagram message from a suspect who suggested exchanging nude photographs. The FBI said the suspect later threatened to share the boy's photographs with his Instagram contacts and demanded money.

The EFCC said online communications with the 13-year-old reportedly continued despite the boy indicating that he intended to take his own life.

Meta, Instagram's parent company, has faced criticism from governments that accuse it of failing to protect minors online. On Wednesday, Meta pledged to limit under-18s' use of its social media platforms in the United States.