Nigeria has deported 102 foreign nationals, including 60 Chinese citizens and 39 Filipinos, after they were convicted of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, the country’s anti-graft agency announced on Thursday.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the deportees were part of a group of 792 suspected cybercriminals arrested in December 2023 during a sweeping operation in Victoria Island, Lagos. Among those initially detained, at least 192 were foreigners, including 148 Chinese nationals.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale clarified that while an earlier statement cited 50 Chinese deportees, an additional 10 Chinese, 39 Filipinos, and two Kazakhstanis had also been repatriated since August 15. More deportations are expected in the coming days.
Photographs released by the agency showed groups of Asian men wearing face masks lining up at airport counters before being flown out.
The EFCC said the foreign syndicates collaborated with Nigerian accomplices in running elaborate phishing scams, often targeting victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. These scams trick victims into transferring money or surrendering sensitive information such as banking credentials.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has long battled a reputation for internet fraudsters, locally dubbed “Yahoo Boys.” Authorities say the growing involvement of international gangs has intensified the threat, with foreign cybercrime networks taking advantage of Nigeria’s weak cybersecurity systems to establish operations.
The mass deportation underscores Nigeria’s stepped-up efforts to crack down on organized cybercrime and restore confidence in its digital and financial systems.
Written By Rodney Mbua
