ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria has deported 51 foreign nationals convicted of cyberterrorism and large-scale internet fraud, in a coordinated operation led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
According to an EFCC statement, the deportees include 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian. Their removal brings the total number of deported foreigners to 102 since the mass repatriation exercise began on August 15.
The convicts were among 192 foreign nationals arrested in Lagos during a sting operation targeting one of the largest foreign-led cybercrime syndicates operating in Nigeria. Authorities said actionable intelligence exposed the syndicate’s extensive network, which was allegedly responsible for orchestrating high-level internet scams and cyberattacks affecting individuals and businesses both locally and internationally.
“Further deportations are scheduled in the coming days as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle foreign-led cybercrime networks,” the EFCC confirmed in its statement.
Security analysts view the crackdown as a strong signal that Nigeria is intensifying its war against cyber-enabled financial crimes. The coordinated repatriations, they argue, underscore the government’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s digital economy, while also reassuring global partners of Nigeria’s resolve to tackle transnational cybercrime.
The EFCC added that investigations remain ongoing, with more arrests and possible prosecutions expected in the coming weeks.
