Instagram Stars Detained for Extortion in Lagos

According to Canada’s CityNews, Toronto-based Instagrammers Kiran and Jyonti Matharoo have been detained in Lagos since Monday and are accused of extorting and cyber bullying 274 wealthy African men, most of whom are based in Nigeria. The women have a combined 51,000 followers.

PoliticsNigeria reports the sisters allegedly ran the site “naijagistlive” through which they met and accused “high-ranking men” of cheating on their wives and hiring prostitutes. The women allegedly told the men they’d tell their wives about the affairs if they weren’t paid off.

“They approached certain people who they knew were wealthy,” publisher of PoliticsNigeria Dumebi Ifeanyi told CityNews. The site specifically names Femi Otedola, an energy-sector businessman worth $1.8 billion, as one of the sisters’ alleged victims. They were arrested following a private investigation after he was targeted.

Global Affairs Canada confirmed to the Star the women have been provided consular services during their detainment. It’s unclear what they were doing in Nigeria at the time of their arrest.