The United States has intensified collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to dismantle sextortion syndicates through enhanced intelligence sharing and coordinated efforts against transnational cybercrime.
The renewed partnership was reinforced during a high-level meeting between officials of the United States Consulate, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the EFCC in Lagos, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to closer cooperation in investigating and disrupting cross-border criminal networks targeting victims in Nigeria, the United States and other countries.
The commitment was underscored on Monday during a courtesy visit by Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché at the United States Consulate, SSA James Smith, and Special Supervisory Agent Thomas Pepper of the FBI’s Cyber Division Headquarters to the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, ACE I Bawa Kaltungo.
Speaking during the interactive session, Smith said the visit was aimed at strengthening the existing partnership between the U.S. Consulate and the anti-graft agency, particularly through enhanced information sharing and closer operational collaboration in combating sextortion, cyber-enabled fraud and other criminal activities involving both Nigerians and foreign nationals.
He noted that stronger intelligence exchange and sustained cooperation between both countries’ law enforcement agencies would improve the detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercriminals operating across international borders.
Responding, Kaltungo expressed appreciation to the U.S. delegation for the visit and reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with the United States Consulate and the FBI.
He assured the delegation of the Commission’s readiness to provide the necessary cooperation in intelligence sharing, investigations and other joint efforts aimed at combating sextortion and other forms of transnational financial crime.