Nigeria has deported 102 foreigners linked to cybercrime, in what officials describe as one of the country’s biggest crackdowns on international fraud networks. Among those sent packing were 50 Chinese nationals and a Tunisian, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The deportations, which started on August 15, followed the arrest of 792 suspects in December during a major raid in Victoria Island, Lagos. Out of this number, 192 were foreigners — with 148 identified as Chinese citizens. Investigators say many of them had turned luxury apartments into cybercrime “factories,” recruiting and training young Nigerians to run scams targeting victims abroad.
“Some of these foreigners were not just committing fraud; they were teaching Nigerians how to carry it out,” the EFCC said in its statement. Victims, mostly in the US, Canada, Mexico, and parts of Europe, were allegedly tricked through phishing schemes into handing over banking details and money.
Cybersecurity experts warn that Nigeria’s weak digital safeguards have made it an easy base for these global fraud syndicates. “They exploit gaps in enforcement, settle into communities, and aggressively recruit locals,” one Lagos analyst explained. This, they say, risks worsening Nigeria’s reputation internationally and hurting its fast-growing tech ecosystem.
The EFCC insists more deportations and prosecutions will follow, stressing that cybercrime remains a top priority. Local collaborators, they warned, will not be spared. “Nigeria will not be used as a launchpad for international fraud,” the agency declared.
While cybercrime is a global problem costing hundreds of billions annually, Nigeria faces a unique challenge. Its long-standing association with ‘419’ scams already casts a shadow on its digital economy. Unless tackled head-on, experts fear it could frustrate the country’s push to become West Africa’s leading tech hub.
Analysts argue that Nigeria cannot fight this battle alone. Stronger cross-border partnerships, intelligence sharing, and digital forensics will be key. For now, the deportation of 50 Chinese nationals and others sends a strong message. Whether it will be enough to keep new syndicates from setting up shop in Nigeria, however, is still an open question.
