Nigerian arrested in India for blackmail leading to woman’s suicide

The Commissionerate Police has arrested a 31-year-old Nigerian national, Djedje Raymond, alias Chijioke John Okoye, for allegedly blackmailing and extorting money from a 37-year-old woman in Cuttack, who died by suicide on March 1. Okoye was apprehended in New Delhi on Friday and brought to Cuttack on Sunday to be produced in court.

According to The New Indian Express, DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo, addressing the media, said the victim’s suicide note indicated she took her life after being repeatedly blackmailed and threatened via WhatsApp by unknown individuals demanding money.

Following a complaint from her family, the cyber cell of Cuttack Urban Police District launched an investigation. The police traced the international WhatsApp numbers used to contact the victim through a telecom service provider, linking the IP address to New Delhi, where a special team arrested Okoye in Palam Colony.

According to DCP Khilari, Okoye created over 3,000 fake profiles on Facebook, impersonating professionals such as doctors. He used these fake identities to send friend requests to individuals working in similar fields.

“After establishing contact, he would gain the victims’ trust and request their mobile and WhatsApp numbers under the pretense of forming a personal relationship,” Khilari said.

Once connected through WhatsApp, Okoye allegedly shared fake intimate images and videos of the professionals he impersonated. He would then persuade his targets to share their private and personal content, which he later used to blackmail and extort money from them.

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Police said Okoye used the same method to target the woman in Cuttack. After acquiring her private photos and videos, he repeatedly threatened to release them unless she paid him. The ongoing harassment reportedly pushed the victim to take her own life.

During the operation, police seized a laptop, five mobile phones, and eight SIM cards from different countries. Although Okoye is a Nigerian citizen, he was found in possession of a passport from the *République de Côte d’Ivoire* (Ivory Coast), which is currently under verification.

Authorities are investigating whether Okoye acted alone or was part of a larger organized cybercrime syndicate. Police plan to seek a court remand to conduct further inquiries.

DCP Khilari urged the public to remain cautious of suspicious online activities and to report any incidents promptly to law enforcement authorities to prevent similar tragedies.

The case highlights the growing threat of cybercrime and the dangers of sharing personal information online.