The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two women over their alleged involvement in a cyber-enabled blackmail scheme targeting online business owners and vendors.
The suspects, identified as Shallon Daniels, 22, and Peace Ijeoma, 27, were arrested by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following complaints from several victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development through a statement issued by the command.
According to the police, the suspects and other accomplices currently at large allegedly operated a group known as “Witches of China,” which was used to publish defamatory and libellous content against online vendors.
Investigations revealed that members of the group allegedly demanded ransom payments from online business operators and threatened to tarnish their reputations if the demands were not met.
The victims alleged that when vendors refused to pay, the suspects coordinated mass reporting of their social media business pages, leading to the suspension or deactivation of the accounts.
The complainants said the activities of the group caused significant emotional distress, reputational damage and financial losses to their businesses.
Police said the victims reported that the alleged actions disrupted their operations and negatively affected customer confidence.
According to the command, a discreet investigation led to the arrest of Daniels and Ijeoma, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
The police urged additional victims who may have been affected by the group’s activities to come forward and assist ongoing investigations by providing relevant information and statements.
The command assured the public that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The police also reiterated their commitment to tackling cybercrime, extortion and other offences that threaten legitimate businesses and public safety in the state.
