A 24-year-old man from Toronto, identified as Abdul-Waris Omotolani Shittu, is facing multiple charges related to the alleged online extortion of a child from a rural community in Alberta. The investigation was initiated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in December 2024 after receiving reports that a child from the small town of Oyen, located approximately 190 kilometers north of Medicine Hat and near the Saskatchewan border, had fallen victim to a case of online extortion.

The RCMP began gathering information which linked a suspect to the case via various online platforms, including social media accounts, email correspondence, and even online banking details. Through this diligent investigation, authorities were able to identify Shittu as the prime suspect.

In collaboration with the Toronto Police Service, the Oyen RCMP executed a search warrant at the suspect's residence in Toronto. This operation led to his arrest, further advancing the investigation into the online exploitation of the child.

As a result of the allegations, Shittu faces five serious charges, which include making sexual material available to a child, extortion, as well as possessing, accessing, and distributing child pornography. These charges highlight the severity of the crimes and the ongoing issue of online sexual exploitation of minors.

Shittu is scheduled to appear in a Toronto courtroom at the end of May, where he will face the legal consequences of these allegations. The incident underscores the critical importance of law enforcement agencies working collaboratively across jurisdictions to address and combat child exploitation in the digital age.