Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

7 minutes read. Updated 3:12PM GMT Fri, 6 September, 2024

Two Nigerian brothers, Samuel Ogoshi, 24, and Samson Ogoshi, 21, have been sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison by a U.S. court for their involvement in a sextortion scam that led to the tragic death of a 17-year-old boy. The brothers, hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, targeted Jordan DeMay, a popular high school student from Marquette, Michigan, by pretending to be a girl of his age on Instagram. What started as an innocent online chat quickly escalated into a nightmare that ended with Jordan taking his own life.

A Sinister Scam Unveiled

The Ogoshi brothers exploited the vulnerabilities of teenagers by posing as a teenage girl and luring Jordan DeMay into sharing explicit images of himself. Once they had the images, they blackmailed him, demanding money with threats to share the compromising photos with his friends and family. Despite Jordan sending all the money he could gather, the scammers continued their threats, even cruelly urging him to kill himself when he expressed his despair.

Less than six hours after their initial contact on Instagram, Jordan was found dead in his bedroom. His tragic death has brought attention to the growing menace of sextortion, a cybercrime often traced back to Nigeria, which has now claimed the lives of several young people across the globe.

A Landmark Case

This case marks the first successful prosecution of Nigerian nationals for sextortion in the United States, setting a significant precedent in the fight against this rising form of cybercrime. The brothers were extradited from Lagos last year after U.S. authorities, in collaboration with Nigerian law enforcement, tracked them down and brought them to justice.

In court, Jordan’s mother, Jenn Buta, wept as she held photos of her son and read a heart-wrenching victim impact statement. “I am shattered to my core,” she said, expressing the immeasurable grief that her family has endured. While she welcomed the conclusion of the trial, she acknowledged that no sentence could truly bring closure or justice for the loss of her son.

The Global Impact of Nigerian Cybercrime

Sextortion has become a pervasive issue, with law enforcement agencies around the world noting a rise in cases linked to Nigeria. The Ogoshi brothers were not only responsible for Jordan’s death but were also found to have targeted 38 other victims across the United States, 13 of whom were minors.

Cybersecurity experts in Nigeria have long been aware of the country’s role in such crimes. According to Professor Adedeji Oyenuga of Lagos State University, the sentencing of the Ogoshi brothers sends a strong message to potential offenders. “The news of this case is already filtering through the streets,” he said, “and while it may not eradicate the problem entirely, it is likely to deter some from engaging in such activities.”

A Call for Greater Awareness

Cybersecurity firms and researchers continue to stress the need for greater awareness of the dangers of sextortion, particularly among young people who are most vulnerable to these schemes. Dr. Tombari Sibe, from the Nigerian cybersecurity firm Digital Footprints, emphasizes that cybercrime, including sextortion, has become normalized among some young Nigerians who view it as a low-risk, high-reward endeavor. He hopes that the high-profile nature of this case will serve as a warning that such crimes have severe consequences.

The U.S. court’s ruling is a stark reminder that cybercrime, often perceived as a “bloodless” crime, can have devastating, real-world consequences. As sextortion schemes continue to claim lives, the international community must remain vigilant in combating this evolving threat.

Meta Description: Nigerian brothers sentenced to 17 years in the U.S. for sextortion scam leading to the suicide of a 17-year-old. The landmark case highlights the rising global threat of cybercrime linked to Nigeria.