Nigeria has stepped up its fight against cybercrime with the deportation of 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian on Thursday. This action brings the total number of foreign nationals repatriated since August 15, 2025, to 102, as part of an aggressive nationwide crackdown.
The deportations are a direct result of an extensive operation conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service. This joint effort was launched following a major sting operation in December 2024 at the Big Leaf Building in Lagos, which led to the arrest of 192 foreign nationals. Investigators targeted what they identified as one of the largest foreign-led cybercrime syndicates operating in the country.
During the raid, authorities seized approximately 500 SIM cards and various computer equipment. Following legal proceedings, the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced many of the foreign suspects to one-year prison terms and fines of N1,000,000. In addition, the EFCC successfully secured the forfeiture of $222,729.86 in digital assets.
Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the EFCC, stated that more deportations are planned as the joint operation continues. He framed the milestone as a significant achievement in Nigeria’s efforts to combat corruption and enhance national security. Security analysts view the deportation of over 100 individuals in less than a month as a shift toward proactive enforcement. The government is also investing in future prevention, with the Cybercrime Response Academy training 500 participants and plans to scale up to 2,500.
The EFCC’s focus on foreign-led syndicates follows a previous operation late last year, where almost 800 people were arrested in a Lagos building believed to be a hub for fraudsters involved in romance scams and fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. This latest crackdown demonstrates Nigeria’s determination to dismantle these criminal networks and protect its citizens from sophisticated internet fraud and cyber-terrorism.
