The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended two women, identified as Shallon Daniels, 22, and Peace Ijeoma, 27, on allegations of blackmailing online business vendors and deactivating their social media pages when ransom demands were not met.
Complaints from Business Owners
Numerous business operators filed complaints at the Lagos police command's Special Crime Investigation Department (SCID) against the suspects. The accusers claimed that the suspects, along with others still at large, formed a group named 'Witches of China' which produced defamatory and libelous content targeting certain online vendors. If the vendors failed to pay the demanded ransom, the group would publish the damaging material. Additionally, the suspects and their accomplices would systematically report the victims' business pages, leading to their deactivation.
Impact on Victims
The victims reported to the police that the suspects' actions caused them fear, emotional distress, and significant harm to their business reputations. They also stated that they incurred financial losses due to the activities of the suspects and their associates.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Following a thorough investigation, law enforcement successfully apprehended two of the suspects. The command's spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the arrests to LIB and urged other victims who have not yet come forward to provide their statements. She added that the suspects will be charged in court once the investigation is concluded.
