The Adamawa State Police Command has smashed a major cybercrime syndicate with the arrest of a 24-year-old student, Paul John, a 500-level undergraduate of Modibbo Adama University, Yola.
The suspect, a resident of Jiddel in Michika Local Government Area, allegedly created multiple fake social media accounts, where he shamelessly paraded himself using stolen pictures of unsuspecting women. His accounts bore names such as Rose YarLele, Procious Favourite, Wange Precious, and Joy Dennis, among others.
Using these fraudulent identities, the suspect uploaded the victims’ photos on WhatsApp status updates, TikTok, and Facebook with obscene and derogatory captions like “sexy lesbian” and “I am lesbian.”
Nude Blackmail, Hookup Scams, and Extortion
Police investigations uncovered that John went further to collect nude photographs from some victims under false pretenses, only to weaponize them for threats, extortion of money, and demands for sexual favors. In some cases, he brazenly advertised his victims as sex workers online, demanding payment while dragging their names into disrepute.
Victims reportedly suffered deep emotional trauma, financial losses, and severe reputational damage as a result of his criminal exploits.
Acting swiftly on credible intelligence, operatives of the Commissioner of Police’s Monitoring Unit tracked and arrested the suspect in a sting operation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, psc(+), has ordered a meticulous investigation into the case and directed that the suspect be charged to court at the conclusion of the probe.
Issuing a stern warning, CP Morris declared:
> “Cyberstalking, sextortion, impersonation, and online harassment will not be tolerated in Adamawa State. Anyone engaging in such acts will be relentlessly pursued and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
He further advised social media users, especially women, to exercise extreme caution when interacting with strangers online and to refrain from sharing sensitive personal content with unverified individuals.
The Adamawa State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the dignity, security, and rights of all residents—both offline and in cyberspace. Members of the public are urged to promptly report suspicious cyber activities or blackmail attempts to the Command for immediate action.
SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, ANIPR
Police Public Relations Officer
For: Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command
PIONEER NEWS 