Nigeria has expelled dozens of foreigners in the past week, among them 50 Chinese nationals, as part of a sweeping crackdown on what authorities describe as one of the “largest foreign led cybercrime syndicates.”
According to the country’s anti-graft agency, this brings the number of convicted foreign nationals repatriated to 102 in the ongoing operation. Officials said those deported were found guilty of “cyberterrorism and internet fraud.”
They were among 192 foreigners apprehended during a sting operation carried out in Lagos last Friday.
Nigeria has long battled a reputation for internet fraud, with romance scams being particularly widespread. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) noted that cybercrime was among the most common offences in the country last year.
In recent years, EFCC operatives have also uncovered multiple training centres used by local fraudsters, popularly called “Yahoo Boys,” where many are taught the tactics of online scams.
