By Jerry Williams
ABUJA — Nigeria has deported more than 100 foreigners, including 50 Chinese nationals, in what authorities have described as one of the country’s largest crackdowns on foreign-led cybercrime networks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that the deportations followed a major sting operation in Lagos last Friday. A total of 192 suspects were arrested, 148 of whom were Chinese nationals.
“This brings the total repatriated convicted foreign nationals to 102 in the ongoing exercise,” the EFCC said in a statement on Thursday. Those deported were convicted of cyberterrorism and internet fraud.
The coordinated operation, dubbed “Eagle Flush,” was launched after the agency received “actionable intelligence” on a network of foreign cybercriminals allegedly operating in collaboration with Nigerian recruits.
Photos posted by the EFCC on social media showed dozens of the deportees in face masks, lining up at the airport with their luggage under heavy security escort.
“Further deportations are scheduled in the coming days,” the agency added.
Cybercrime remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing criminal threats. Internet fraud — especially romance and investment scams — continues to rise across the country. Last year, the EFCC identified cybercrime as one of the most reported offences.
This marks the second large-scale sweep targeting foreign nationals in less than a year. In December, nearly 800 suspects — including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipinos — were arrested in connection with a sophisticated scam ring running romance and cryptocurrency fraud schemes.
The EFCC has long warned that cybercrime in Nigeria is fueled by youth unemployment, weak regulatory oversight, and the lure of fast money. The so-called “Yahoo Boys” — local scammers who often learn tactics in organized training houses — have become notorious online and abroad.
Global tech companies have also responded to the threat. In 2024, Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, removed thousands of accounts linked to Nigerian sextortion scams and dismantled over 5,700 Facebook groups offering scam tips.
Security experts continue to urge social media users worldwide to stay vigilant, warning that scammers are adapting their tactics as platforms evolve.
