Three persons have been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center in connection with a case of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and threat to life.
The suspects are Adebukola Kolapo, Nnedum Micheal Somtomchukwu, and Isaac Akpokighe, all males of ages 27, 25, and 30 respectively are members of a syndicate called the Gistlover family.
Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Police Public Relations Officer in a statement in Abuja said the force received a petition from one Dr. Seye Oladejo, on the threat to life and blackmailing schemes operating in the guise of microblogging pages.
According to the statement, the suspects are responsible for the daily running of the Gistlover blog, a microblogging platform known for cyberstalking, incitement, Blackmail, and sundry, which has over the years been a public outcry.
It added that the first suspect Adebukola Kolapo a.k.a Omo oba Gistlover was responsible for the creation of over 80 percent of the Gistlover pages for the perpetration of the criminal act.
“Being on the payroll of the said platform and having enjoyed incentives like car gifts and monies. Adebukola was saddled with the responsibility of scouting, editing, and captioning content including the cyberstalking post made against the complainant, Dr.Oluseyi Oladejo.
“Adebukola has also contributed to laundering monies gotten from the illegal scheme through various means.
“Digital forensic analysis led to the recovery of eight (8) gist lover pages created on the instruction of the head of the syndicate by Adebukola, and wallet addresses used in laundering these monies.
“The second suspect, Nnedum Somtochukwu also shared in the conspiracy wherein at every point the page was taken down for certain infractions and violation of policies at the instance of reports from Law Enforcement Agencies.
“He enjoyed incentives like referrals for promotions from the head of the syndicate; Nnedum has also been found sharing content, feedback, and making defamatory remarks with the said head of the syndicate.
“The third suspect, Isaac Akpokighe a 30 years old male resident of Igando Lagos State unlike the duo above, is into Blackmailing, cyberstalking, and false information market, decides to imitate the Gistlover blog,” the statement said.
The statement added that Digital forensics led to the recovery of four gistlover pages created by Isaac Apkokogho.
FPPRO explained that the suspects will be charged in court on completion of the investigation.
He further said the Inspector General of Police IGP Olukayode Egbetokun applauds the National Cybercrime Center led by CP Uche Henry and reaffirms the commitment of the Force to ensuring the safety of citizens in the physical and digital space.
