ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria has deported 102 foreigners, including 60 Chinese nationals and 39 Filipinos, who were convicted of “cyber-terrorism and internet fraud,” the country’s anti-corruption agency announced on Thursday.
In an earlier statement, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially reported that 50 Chinese individuals were among the most recent deportees, along with a Tunisian.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesman, later informed Vivid Voice News that an additional 39 Filipinos, 10 Chinese, and two Kazakhstani nationals had also been repatriated since August 15.
He added that more deportations were scheduled to take place in the coming days. The EFCC released images showing a group of Asian men wearing surgical face masks lining up at airport check-in counters.
The deportees were among 792 suspected cybercriminals who were arrested in a single operation conducted last December in the affluent Victoria Island area of Lagos. Of those arrested, at least 192 were foreign nationals, with 148 of them being Chinese, according to the EFCC.
Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous country, has a reputation for internet fraud, with perpetrators locally known as “Yahoo Boys.” The EFCC has successfully raided several hideouts where young criminals are taught scamming skills.
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The agency stated that these foreign gangs recruited Nigerian accomplices to find victims online through phishing scams.
The criminals typically attempt to deceive their victims into transferring money or revealing sensitive information like passwords.
The scams primarily target individuals in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Experts have also warned that foreign “cybercrime syndicates” have established operations in Nigeria to exploit the country’s weak cybersecurity systems.
