By Julius Agadaga, Yenagoa
A political analyst, Apostle Udeme Asuquo, has raised the alarm over the growing incidence of political blackmail, character assassination and scamming by fraudsters across the country.
Asuquo sounded the warning while responding to questions from journalists on the nation’s political climate at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omuagwa, Rivers State.
According to him, the trend appears more prevalent in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta than in many other regions of the country.
He explained that the modus operandi of the syndicates is the fabrication of false stories, sometimes supported with artificial intelligence–generated evidence, noting that such crimes are often carried out by coordinated groups rather than lone actors.
The analyst disclosed that victims are usually pressured to pay between ₦10 million and ₦100 million, depending on the profile and political standing of the target.
Asuquo noted that the tactics of the blackmailers vary, as do the motives behind their actions.
“I want to create public awareness about blackmail tactics. Blackmailers usually come up with names, places, dates and events that are entirely fictitious, accusing their targets of criminal conduct,” he said.
He added that the criminals often link their allegations to imaginary past incidents, presenting them as repeated offences and claiming they had earlier advised the victim to correct the alleged wrongdoing.
“They then claim to have followed up on the matter and threaten to submit petitions to relevant authorities or publish damaging stories on blogs and social media platforms,” he explained.
According to Asuquo, the aim is to instill fear in victims, making them believe that exposure would damage their reputation among family, friends and the general public.
He further revealed that the scammers typically demand secret negotiations and insist on text-only communication, warning victims not to involve third parties while pushing for urgent payment.
Apostle Asuquo cautioned that if the trend is not urgently addressed through stronger constitutional and regulatory measures, it could pose serious risks to public trust, political stability and individual safety.
