Ugandan executive kidnapped, tortured for ‘crypto'
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
A Ugandan digital asset executive who was recently kidnapped and forced to transfer his 'crypto' is appealing to the country's authorities to bring the criminals to justice.
Festo Ivaibi was kidnapped outside his home on May 17 by individuals he alleged posed as security agents. The criminals, who were dressed in police uniforms and bore arms, demanded a $500,000 ransom before later forcing him to transfer his digital assets to their wallets.
Ivaibi is the founder of Afro Token, a local memecoin project, and Mitroplus Labs, a blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) education initiative.
CRYPTO ABDUCTION IN UGANDA.
On Saturday, May 17th 2025, our founder @IvaibiFesto was abducted by individuals posing as security agents(@MODVA_UPDF) and forced under duress, to release his crypto assets. We thank God he is now safe, and all systems have been secured.
This is… pic.twitter.com/ipZkrwTv95
In a statement, Afro Token assured its token holders that the project had not been affected despite the founder being forced to sell $18,000 worth of the token.
It also alleged that the criminal gang behind the attack conspires with security agents and 'two Chinese businessmen' to target digital asset entrepreneurs in the East African nation. It added that there had been 48 similar cases of 'crypto' abductions, but the gang had used its influence to have the investigations suspended.
Just days later, the startup revealed that security agents had arrested a suspect: Phineous Biira. The suspect was allegedly tracked down using blockchain forensic tools, which revealed he controlled the address that had received the stolen coins.
'This incident highlights the urgent need for stakeholder engagement and clear policy formulation for blockchain and crypto technologies in the African continent,' the project stated.
'The technology is already here, and the risks, if left unregulated or misunderstood, are too great to ignore.'
'Crypto' abductions skyrocket
The incident is just one of many in a rising trend that has the digital asset sector on edge. On Wednesday, authorities in New York arrested a second suspect accused of kidnapping and torturing an Italian tourist for three weeks for his digital assets. The first suspect was arrested last Friday. The suspects had been conducting digital asset business with the victim for years, and after building trust, they lured him to New York to rob him.
Still, this week, French authorities charged 24 suspects in a multi-million-euro digital asset kidnapping case. The crime ring has been targeting digital asset traders, prompting one French industry leader to call on authorities to 'stop the Mexicanisation of France,' France 24 reports.
'It's becoming a thing because people think it's an easy way to get cash. Instead of robbing a bank, they can kidnap someone and get access to their Bitcoin wallet or crypto wallet,' David Seltzer, a cybercrime attorney, told CBS.
Adam Healy, a former United States Marine, concurs, noting that criminals view attacking digital asset owners as 'effectively easy money.'
Healy now heads Station70, a digital asset security solutions firm whose clients include CoinShares, Flipside, and Magic Eden.
'It's a lot easier, lower risk, and it's a much bigger payout than, say, robbing a bank or robbing a convenience store. You're not going to get in a gunfight while you're trying to leave the bank,' he told the New York Post.
Watch: Tech redefines how things are done—Africa is here for it
title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Wealthy philanthropist who spend fortunes supporting Namibian desert lions is killed by one after leaving his tent to use the loo
A wealthy philanthropist who spent large sums of money supporting the Namibian desert lions has been killed by one of the predators after leaving his tent to use the toilet. Businessman Bernd Kebbel, 59, was asleep with his wife Conny, 57, on a wildlife expedition at a camp in the north of the country, blissfully unaware that a hungry lioness was stalking him. As the father-of-two climbed down a ladder from the safety of his rooftop tent, mounted on the top of a 4 x 4, the man-eating beast was lying in wait in the dark and attacked him. His desperate screams woke up the rest of the shocked camp who rushed to his rescue in the darkness and bravely chased off the lioness before it could devour its victim. However the Namibian police, investigating the case, said that nothing could be done to save the keen outdoorsman who was killed almost instantly in the savage lightning fast attack. His blood-soaked body was covered up until the authorities could arrive and it is feared that the lioness, named by locals as Charlie, may be hunted and shot dead. The tragedy happened when Mr Kebbel got up in the early hours of Friday morning, unaware that the watching lioness had creeped into the sleeping camp. According to initial reports, Mr Kebbel climbed down a ladder from the tent on the roof and was then attacked and dragged away by the lioness whose jaws tore into his neck and throat. A Namibian lion expert who spoke on the agreement of anonymity said: 'Thankfully it would have been quick as a human is no match for a lioness that is in its prime. 'There are only about 60 desert lions in this region of Kunane where the attack happened and in this particular area around the Hoanib Camp maybe a dozen at the very most. 'The desert lions have adapted to the harsh and burning desert environment and have become extremely adept night-time hunters as there is no cover for them during the day. 'They are quick and fast and extremely strong and do not get much opportunity to hunt so can become very hungry – hungry enough to risk attacking a feared human.' It is understood that Mr Kebbel and Conny's two children, Dieter and Heidi, both in their late twenties, are now flying home to comfort their devastated mother at their home in the Namibian capital, Windhoek. For many years, Mr Kebbel owned the Off-Road-Centre in Namibia's main city Windhoek which bought and sold 4 x 4 safari vehicles and also sold the accessories required in the wild. Lion expert Izak Smit said that the nation's most famous expert in the field, Dr Philip 'Flip' Stander had even named an adult male Kebbel in his honour. Mr Smith said it was to recognise the large sums of money Mr Kebbel had paid into looking after lions but, tragically, Kebbel had become a 'problem animal' after allegedly killing the local wildlife. A big game hunting firm had even offered a £50,000 licence to rich hunters in order to kill the predator, but before the offer was taken up the magnificent solitary male was poisoned by the local farmers. There are about 38,000 free roaming lions left in Africa, mostly in conservation areas, with the Namibian Ministry of the Environment & Tourist estimating they have just 800. The majority are in the Etosha National Park, with about 110 in the North-West including the Kunene Region where Mr Kebbel was killed while on one of his many wild safaris. Weighing 170kgs, the desert lionesses can run at up to 50mph and measure two metres long, not including the tail. Meanwhile, their powerful jaws have teeth up to four inches long. With very little water in the desert areas along the Skeleton Coast and in the mountains, inland the lions get their liquid from the bodies of prey like ostrich and antelope and seals. But, as villages move further and further into lion territory creating increased human/lion conflict, the predators often attack livestock and villagers reply by shooting, snaring or poisoning them. The violent death of Mr Kebbel was confirmed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Police who said that it happened near the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. A Namibian police spokesman said: 'There were brave efforts by fellow campers who drove the animal away but it was too late to save him from the fatal injuries inflicted to his neck' Mr Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, a spokesperson for the tourism ministry, confirmed that officials had been dispatched to the site, adding: 'We can confirm that Mr Kebbel was killed. Our team is on the ground investigating'. He added, however, that it was too early to make a decision on what would happen to the lioness and they would rely on an experts report. Close friend Sharon Baines said on social media: 'What a shock Bernd & Conny as you were just settling in to enjoy the best years of life and everyone is just devastated right now. 'Gentle Bernd your smile and humility will be remember and you made the world a better place. Conny, Heidi and Dieter, there are no words, but we wish you strength and love'. Another post from Marius Burger read: 'Desert lions adapted to survive in the harshest of terrain so are very dangerous as they can be starving and just desperate to find fresh prey. 'Sadly this lioness has tasted human blood and flesh and will have lost its natural fear of a human. There will be little choice than to hunt it down and euthanise it'.
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- The Guardian
Women and girls ‘not safe anywhere' as Darfur suffers surge in sexual violence
As Sudan's Darfur region has been overrun by militias, women are facing the constant threat of sexual violence, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported. The medical charity said in the South Darfur region alone its workers treated 659 sexual violence survivors between January and March this year, more than two-thirds of whom had been raped. 'Women and girls do not feel safe anywhere. They are attacked in their own homes, when fleeing violence, getting food, collecting firewood, working in the fields. They tell us they feel trapped,' said Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency coordinator, who called on the warring parties to hold their fighters to account. 'These attacks are heinous and cruel, often involving multiple perpetrators. This must stop. Sexual violence is not a natural or inevitable consequence of war, it can constitute a war crime, a form of torture, and a crime against humanity.' Several women who gave testimonies to MSF described raids where fighters killed all the boys and men in a place before raping women and girls. A 27-year-old nurse said she was raped last year by fighters who accused her of treating Sudanese army soldiers. 'I want protection now; I don't want to be raped again … I was too afraid to go to the hospital. My family told me, 'Don't tell anybody'. I don't have any more pain. But I have nightmares about it,' she said. MSF said that 56% of the sexual violence they documented was perpetrated by non-civilians. Women and girls having to walk long distances to gather food and water put them in particular danger, the report said. A third of women and girls were attacked while travelling to or working in fields. Since April 2023, Darfur has witnessed a surge in human rights abuses as it has been taken over by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary and allied militias as they fight for control against the government's Sudanese armed forces. The fighting has recently been concentrated around the city of El Fasher, where conditions have deteriorated rapidly for civilians. The RSF's seizure of the nearby Zamzam displacement camp led to further reports of increased sexual violence. The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (Siha), a coalition of women's rights groups, said it has verified 14 cases of rape but had received reports of many more, during the Zamzam attack and in the weeks since, as well as dozens of reports of women disappearing or being abducted by RSF fighters. 'Sexual violence has become an everyday reality for women and girls in Darfur, along with the rise in sexually transmitted diseases,' said Siha's head, Hala al-Karib, who said the international community had abandoned women in Darfur. Karib said the violence had been escalating since before the current conflict because of the withdrawa of a UN and African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur that had provided some protection to local communities. 'The peacekeeping mission primarily contributed to the safety and security of women by patrolling roads and enabling them to access their farmlands, while also securing displaced camps,' said Karib. 'The level of neglect toward women in Darfur is staggering. This region is experiencing active genocidal acts, horrific war crimes, and famine due to a siege on livelihoods by all actors. There is no dedicated support for women survivors … this crisis is unfolding amid complete silence and utter neglect from international actors.'
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Crypto investors who paid $1.7m for Trump event disappointed at meal
Guests who paid £1.3million for the 'most exclusive invitation in the world' have piled in on the meal served at President Trump's event for crypto investors. Dubbed 'worse than airline food', the black-tie evening was thrown in honour of the 220 buyers behind the US President's official cryptocurrency. The backers of the 'meme coin' are said to have netted Mr Trump and his family £109million ($148million). On the menu was 'pan-seared halibut with a citrus reduction, a filet mignon with demi glaze' but Nicholas Pinto said the food 'sucked'. The 25-year-old - who has self-titled himself as someone who 'does trading' - told Wired 'it was the worst food I've ever had at a Trump golf course' and 'the only good thing was bread and butter'. Water or Mr Trump's wine were the beverages on offer and seeing as he doesn't drink, Mr Pinto (pictured) had water all evening. He said his glass was only refilled once. A crypto blogger, Chris Skinner, similarly critiqued the meal online, posting 'this is what you get served (+ a 25-minute speech from a podium by the numbers with no depth on crypto)'. Steve Kovach, a CNBC correspondant, said he had eaten 'better food on Spirit Airlines' - a budget travel company in America. Another guest said the food was 'OK, but not top class' while one user online described the meal as something 'you'd get as a reward in prison for not stabbing anyone all week'. Crypto investors were extensively targeted during Mr Trump's presidential campaign in 2024, promising them extensive deregulation of the industry. Democrats and ethic experts criticised the event, calling it a way for Trump to enrich himself. But the president pushed back against the charge in remarks to guests, arguing that Hunter Biden and the Biden family made a fortune off the Oval Office. 'Ultimately, no matter what it is, I always put the country way ahead of the business,' he said, adding 'You can't say that about Hunter.' Trump pointed out President Joe Biden's son Hunter sold paintings for thousands of dollars: '500,000 for a painting.' Arriving late, Mr Trump is said to have given bland remarks about 'the whole crypto thing' during his 23-minute long speech for the event and frequently veered off topic. He wore the blue suit and red tie he had been wearing at the White House all day. Addressing his crowd, Mr Trump was reported to have said 'you believe in the whole crypto thing. A lot of people are starting to believe in it … This is really something that may be special. Who knows, right? Who knows – but it may be special'. He then told 'some of the smartest minds anywhere in the world' that cryptocurrencies has a 'great, great future'. His administration was also 'big believers' of the 'cutting edge' industry. He then left his Virginia golf club after about an hour - before taking any questions from his guests on Thursday. But the invitation promised the 25 biggest investors special access to the president via a private reception and special White House tour. 'FOR THE TOP 25 COIN HOLDERS, YOU are Invited to an Exclusive Reception before Dinner with YOUR FAVORITE PRESIDENT!,' the event's website reads. 'PLUS, We have separately by us arranged for a Special VIP Tour for you - so make sure you stay in town.' The average guest is said to have spent $1.78million (£1.3million) on the President's cryptocurrency that was launched three days before his inauguration, blockchain analytics company Nansen claimed. But top spenders cashed out more than $10 million on the investment, with those at the other end of the range contributing a mere $100,000. Justin Sun holds the top spot, spending $22 million in '$Trump coin'. The crypto billionaire was charged in 2023 for market manipulation and offering unregistered securities. These were dropped in February, weeks after Mr Trump came to office. Many of the investors in the cryptocurrency are foreign and it's unclear what kind of background check they went through in order to be near the ballroom. Many of the guests were anonymous as they bought the currency through pseudonyms, registering with user names to make their purchases. Some had to navigate a sea of protesters outside of the club, walking through the shouting throngs on their way into the event. Inside, guests were greeted by a poster featuring Trump in a tux, his fist upheld in his classic fight stance, with the words 'Fight Fight Fight' written in gold. The official website for the dinner describes it as 'the most exclusive invitation in the world.' The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reassured journalists on Thursday that it was 'absurd for anyone to insinuate this president is profiting off of the presidency' because of his history in business. 'All of the [resident's assets are in a blind trust, which is managed by his children,' she said in her press briefing. She blasted suggestions the president was profiting off his office. 'The president is abiding by all conflict of interest laws that are applicable to the president. And I think everybody, the American public, believe it's absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency. This president was incredibly successful before giving it all up to serve our country publicly, not only has he lost wealth, but he also almost lost his life. He has sacrificed a lot to be here. And to suggest otherwise is, frankly, completely absurd,' she said. The $TRUMP memecoins are sold on exchange markets and the money does not go to Trump directly. But about 80 percent of $TRUMP coins are held by Trump Organization affiliates, meaning if they rise in value so does the president's portfolio. Trump's cryptocurrency also makes money for those groups simply by being traded. For every $TRUMP coin that's traded, a transaction fee is taken. Chainalysis, another cryptocurrency research firm, estimated the memecoin made nearly $900,000 in transaction fees within the first two days of the contest being announced.
