Nigeria has deported 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian citizen convicted of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, marking a significant escalation in the country’s campaign against foreign-led cybercrime networks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the deportations on Thursday as part of Operation Eagle Sweep, an ongoing interagency effort with the Nigeria Immigration Service that has now removed 102 individuals since its August 15 launch. The latest actions target one of Nigeria’s largest cybercrime syndicates operating from Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital, where nearly 200 foreign nationals were arrested in coordinated raids.
The deportations represent Nigeria’s robust response to sophisticated foreign-operated cybercrime rings that have established operational bases within the country. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed those removed had been convicted of serious cyber-terrorism offenses and complex internet fraud schemes targeting both domestic and international victims.
Investigations had revealed consistent modus operandi among these international cybercrime networks, which typically use romantic relationships to establish trust before funneling victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.
The syndicates employ advanced social engineering techniques and leverage Nigeria’s growing digital infrastructure to conceal their operations while targeting victims across Africa, Europe, and North America. The latest deportations specifically address Chinese-led networks that have established operational bases in Lagos, taking advantage of the city’s status as West Africa’s financial and technological hub.
The successful implementation of Operation Eagle Sweep demonstrates strengthened coordination between Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigeria Immigration Service. This partnership enables more effective tracking, apprehension, and deportation of foreign nationals engaged in cybercrime within Nigeria’s borders.
This is as the EFCC has significantly expanded its cybercrime division over the past two years, developing specialized digital forensics capabilities and international cooperation agreements with law enforcement agencies in China, Tunisia, and other countries frequently linked to cybercrime operations targeting Nigerian institutions and citizens.
