The United States Consulate in Lagos and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, have commended the EFCC for its investigative effectiveness and sustained efforts in combating sextortion and transnational financial crimes.
The commendation came on Monday, July 6, 2026, during a courtesy visit by Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the United States Consulate, SSA James Smith, and SSA Thomas Pepper of the Cyber Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation Headquarters, to the Acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo.
Speaking during the interactive session, James stated that the visit aimed to strengthen the existing collaboration between the U.S. Consulate and the Commission particularly in the area of information sharing in combating criminal activities involving both Nigerians and foreigners.
Responding, ACE I Kaltungo thanked the delegation for the visit, and assured them of utmost cooperation where necessary.
The meeting follows a series of joint crackdowns on West African cyber-syndicates. The FBI previously initiated Operation Artemis, an international tactical surge deployed to Nigeria to combat financially motivated sextortion rings.
Cybercriminals targeting minors in the U.S. and other Western nations have caused nearly $65 million in losses and driven more than 20 minors to suicide.
Joint operations between the FBI and EFCC have yielded the arrests of dozens of suspects, alongside high-profile extraditions to face federal prosecution under the U.S. legal system.