Nigerian authorities have deported over 100 foreigners convicted of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, in what is described as one of the country’s biggest clampdowns on foreign-led scam networks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in partnership with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), confirmed that 51 individuals, 50 Chinese nationals, and one Tunisian, were deported in the latest round.
This brings the total number of convicted foreign nationals repatriated since mid-August to 102.
EFCC says more foreign cybercrime deportations coming soon
The deportees were among 192 foreign suspects arrested during Operation Eagle Flush, a sting operation launched in Lagos after intelligence revealed the activities of one of the largest cybercrime syndicates operating in Nigeria.
According to the EFCC, 148 people arrested were Chinese, while others included nationals from the Philippines, Tunisia, and Kazakhstan.
The agency explained that those convicted had already served court-ordered sentences for offences ranging from romance scams to fake cryptocurrency investment schemes.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale disclosed that the crackdown is ongoing, with further deportations scheduled in the coming days.
“This is a message that Nigeria is no longer a haven for criminal gangs,” Oyewale said. “Foreign syndicates who exploit our digital economy and recruit local youths will be dismantled and sent back to face their home authorities.”
Authorities released images of the deportees through their X official page, lined up at Lagos airport, wearing face masks and clutching their belongings, before boarding flights out of the country.
Initially, internet fraud, known locally as “Yahoo Yahoo,” has long been associated with young Nigerians who exploit phishing and online romance scams.
However, recent EFCC findings suggest that foreign criminal syndicates are increasingly embedded in the country.
These groups reportedly recruit Nigerians as digital foot soldiers, teaching them how to lure victims abroad, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Europe, into transferring money through fake romantic relationships or fraudulent investment platforms.
The syndicates’ operations are becoming more advanced, and they often use crypto wallets and digital tools to cover their tracks.
A recent example cited by investigators was the Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX), a fake investment scheme that collapsed earlier this year after defrauding Nigerians of millions. Many victims lost their entire life savings, with tragic reports of some resorting to suicide.
Cybercrime remains one of the most reported offences in Nigeria at present.
Africa’s rising crypto fraud crisis
Nigeria’s cybercrime challenges are part of a broader African trend. This month, Interpol concluded Operation Serengeti 2.0, a continent-wide sting that led to more than 1,200 suspects’ arrests across 18 African countries.
The operation recovered nearly $100 million and shut down over 11,000 malicious online infrastructures, as reported by Techpression.
Zambia was among the worst-hit, where authorities dismantled a fraudulent crypto investment scheme that scammed an estimated 65,000 victims and siphoned off over $300 million.
Similarly, Angolan investigators uncovered 25 illegal crypto-mining centres operated by Chinese nationals and seized equipment worth more than $37 million.
For Nigeria, the mass deportations are intended as both punishment and deterrent. EFCC officials stress that the fight against cybercrime is far from over and will require deeper collaboration with international partners, as many victims are overseas.
The agency has also called on Nigerian youths to resist the lure of quick wealth offered by cybercrime recruiters, insisting that the long-term costs, including imprisonment and ruined reputations, far outweigh any short-term gains.
“Nigeria cannot afford to be branded as a hub for internet fraud,” EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said in a recent briefing. “We are cleaning house, but we must also prevent the next generation from being ensnared.”