Nigeria deports Chinese scammers in crackdown on 'foreign-led' cyber crime

A total of 102 deported foreigners have been convicted of "cyber-terrorism and internet fraud" this week.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveNigeria deports Chinese scammers in crackdown on 'foreign-led' cyber crime1 hour agoShareSaveWycliffe MuiaBBC NewsShareSaveEconomic and Financial Crimes Commission/XThe EFCC posted photos of the foreigners being deported after their arrest last week and subsequent convictionNigeria has deported dozens of foreigners, including 50 Chinese nationals, in a major crackdown over the last week on one of the "largest foreign-led cybercrime syndicates", the country's anti-graft agency has said.

"This brings the total repatriated convicted foreign nationals to 102 in the ongoing exercise," it said, adding they had been found guilty of "cyberterrorism and internet fraud".

They are among the 192 foreigners arrested during a sting operation in Lagos last Friday.

Nigeria is notorious for internet fraud and romance scamming is rife. Cybercrime cases were amongst the most prevalent offences in Nigeria last year, according to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

In recent years, the EFCC has successfully busted several hideouts where young cybercriminals, locally known as "Yahoo Boys", learn their scamming skills.