Police to Nigerians: Be wary of dating apps… avoid sharing intimate information

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has advised citizens to avoid sharing intimate information with persons they meet online.  

In a statement signed by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, NPF spokesperson, in a post on his official X page on Tuesday, the police said while relationships are easily forged online, Nigerians need to be extremely cautious when navigating “the world of online dating”.

Adejobi added that unguarded interactions and engagements with strangers online can endanger lives and lead to sextortion, cyberbullying, character defamation or blackmailing. 

The force spokesperson cited the case of a male complainant whose relationship with one Opara Joan Chizaram degenerated after she recorded their consensual activities.

He added that Chizaram would later use the videos to blackmail the complainant.  

“The incident in question involves a complainant who, like many, sought companionship through a dating app. After months of communication, he agreed to meet a young lady who insisted on visiting his home,” the statement reads. 

“Their encounter resulted in consensual activities. Little did he know that his trust would be betrayed in a most invasive manner. 

“The individual he met, Opara Joan Chizaram, ‘f’ 26, recorded him without consent during an intimate moment and discreetly captured images of his home surroundings.

“These actions, conducted in secrecy, were intended to manipulate and exploit the complainant’s trust.

“Subsequently, this individual demanded a significant sum of money from the complainant.

“When the request was not met, she resorted to an alarming and reprehensible act: she threatened to expose private and intimate content, including explicit images and videos of the complainant, with the intent to blackmail him.

“Upon the complainant’s courageous decision to report this heinous act to the NPF – National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC), investigators took swift action, leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.

“During the investigation, it was discovered that this was not an isolated incident. The suspect had engaged in similar actions with other individuals she met through the dating app, revealing a disturbing pattern of behaviour.”

The force spokesperson advised netizens to maintain privacy, trust their instincts and report suspicious activities during online interactions.