It marks the second large-scale raid targeting foreigners suspected of cybercrime in less than a year….reports Asian Lite News
Nigeria has deported dozens of foreigners, including 50 Chinese nationals, in a sweeping crackdown on what authorities described as one of the country’s largest foreign-led cybercrime syndicates.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the latest operation, carried out over the past week, has brought the total number of convicted foreign nationals repatriated to 102.
According to the EFCC, those deported were found guilty of “cyberterrorism and internet fraud” following their arrest during a sting operation in Lagos last Friday. In total, 192 foreigners were detained, of whom 148 were Chinese. Photos released by the anti-graft agency on Thursday showed groups of deportees lined up at an airport, wearing facemasks and carrying luggage, as they awaited repatriation. The agency said further deportations are planned in the coming days.
The BBC reports that the operation, codenamed Eagle Flush, was launched after the EFCC received actionable intelligence. It marks the second large-scale raid targeting foreigners suspected of cybercrime in less than a year. Last December, nearly 800 suspects—including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipinos—were arrested in Nigeria over alleged involvement in romance and cryptocurrency scams.
Nigeria has long struggled with cybercrime, which ranges from online romance scams to sophisticated internet fraud schemes. Locally known “Yahoo Boys” have become notorious for running elaborate cons, often targeting victims abroad. The EFCC has linked the rise in such crimes to unemployment, a thriving informal economy, and weak regulatory systems. Experts continue to urge caution, warning social media users to remain vigilant against online scams.
