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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Emmanuel Akinwotu in Lagos

FOUND: Their weapon is your shame toxic abuse from nigeria s loan sharks - What They Never Told You

Nigeria Africa Lagos
Face with threatening, phone message
Loan companies in Nigeria not only send threatening messages but also use customers’ social media contacts to harass them. Photograph: Ojuolape Agbaje/The Guardian

Shayo Adebayo, 28, an unemployed medical physiology graduate from south-west Nigeria, read from scores of abusive WhatsAapp messages and voice notes sent to her by debt collectors from quick loan companies.

“I will destroy your life,” said one. “I want to see your payment or else all hell will be let loose,” said another. And another, which simply said “enjoy your shame”, arrived after a message calling her a fraud and thief was sent to her family, friends and everyone in her contacts, attached to a photo lifted from her Facebook page.

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