The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has extradited two Nigerian nationals to the United States to face charges over alleged sextortion crimes targeting minors.
FBI Director Kash Patel identified the suspects as Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, saying they were arrested in Nigeria in 2023 before being returned to the United States.
Patel made the disclosure in a post on X, describing the two Nigerians as “high-value targets” who had been brought back to the United States to face justice.
According to the FBI director, the charges against the suspects include alleged sexual exploitation of minors, coercion and enticement, extortion, as well as the distribution and production of child sexual abuse material.
Patel also disclosed that one of the alleged sextortion schemes resulted in the death of a child.
“This FBI has brought back two high-value targets from Nigeria to the United States to face justice for alleged sextortion crimes targeting minors,” Patel said.
He said Adekunle and Olawale had been overseas for three years following their arrests in Nigeria.
“They were overseas for three years. Now they’re back on U.S. soil to answer for the charges against them,” the FBI director added.
The extradition brings the two Nigerian suspects under the jurisdiction of U.S. authorities, where they are expected to face the charges filed against them.
Sextortion involves the use of threats, coercion or other forms of pressure to obtain sexually explicit images or material from victims, often with demands for money or further sexual content.
The FBI has continued to pursue cases involving the alleged online sexual exploitation of minors, including cases involving suspects operating outside the United States.
The charges against Adekunle and Olawale remain allegations, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
