Australian authorities have made significant progress in the case involving an Australian schoolboy who tragically took his own life after falling victim to an alleged sextortion attempt. Two individuals have been apprehended in Nigeria in connection with the incident.
According to Australian police, the teenage victim had engaged in exchanging explicit images online before being targeted by threats and demands for money. The individuals responsible for these acts were tracked down in Nigeria after a comprehensive global investigation. They are now set to face legal proceedings in Nigerian courts.
The victim’s age and specific location in New South Wales (NSW) have not been disclosed to safeguard the privacy of his family. However, New South Wales Police have described the accused as “young males” who coerced the teenager into paying them A$500 (£260; $330) under threats of disseminating compromising photos to his friends and family.
“The messages are horrific. They’re aggressive and put a lot of pressure on the boy to pay the money,” stated Matthew Craft, cyber-crime commander of the police force, to the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).
Tragically, the boy took his own life on the same evening late last year.
Australian detectives collaborated with law enforcement agencies in South Africa and Nigeria to locate the suspects in a Nigerian slum. While evidence suggests that the pair attempted to extort other individuals, they have been charged specifically in connection with the alleged extortion of the Australian boy, not his death.
Instances of sextortion, particularly involving young people, have been on the rise globally. Detective Superintendent Craft highlighted a “huge spike” in such cases, urging victims to come forward and seek assistance from law enforcement.
“We want young people to continue to report these cases, and to never be embarrassed to talk to police,” he emphasized in a statement.
