In a recent development, the Nigeria Police Force Cybercrime Centre has apprehended three individuals allegedly involved in the operation of the notorious Gistlover blog. The suspects, identified as Adebukola Kolapo, Nnedum Micheal Somtomchukwu, and Isaac Akpokighe, were paraded by the police authorities in Abuja on January 5th, 2024.
The arrests were made following a petition from Hon and Doctor Mrs Seye Oladejo, citing offenses such as cyberstalking, incitement, and threats to life. According to the police spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Gistlover blog has been a source of public outcry over the years, known for its involvement in cyberstalking, incitement, blackmail, and other criminal activities.
Gistlover blog owner, aged 27, 25, and 30 , are reported to be members of a syndicate called Gistlover family, responsible for the daily operations of the microblogging platform. The police allege that Adebukola Kolapo, also known as Omo oba Gistlover, played a significant role, creating over 80 percent of the Gistlover pages and actively participating in scouting, editing, and captioning content.
The statement released by the police revealed that Adebukola was on the payroll of the platform, enjoying incentives such as car gifts and monetary rewards. Additionally, he was implicated in laundering money obtained from the illegal scheme.
Nnedum Micheal Somtomchukwu, the second suspect, was accused of aiding the blog in evading sanctions. He redirected traffic to new pages whenever the blog faced infractions or violated policies. Nnedum, like Adebukola, received incentives for promotions from the head of the syndicate and was found sharing defamatory content and making remarks with the said head.
Isaac Akpokighe, the third suspect, was described as one of many imitators who observed the lucrative nature of the blackmailing, cyberstalking, and false information market. He created several pages mirroring the activities of the Gistlover blog, including reposting defamatory and life-threatening content against the complainant and other notable Nigerians.
Digital forensic analysis led to the recovery of multiple Gistlover pages created by the suspects, as well as wallet addresses used in laundering money. The police emphasized that the suspects would face charges in court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
The arrests have sparked controversy on social media platforms, with the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, strongly warning against partnerships that promote illegal activities similar to Gistlover. He commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center and reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to ensuring the safety of citizens in both physical and digital spaces. The statement, issued on January 5th, 2024, serves as a testament to the ongoing efforts to combat cyberstalking and blackmailing schemes operating under the guise of microblogging platforms in Nigeria.
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