Nigeria Deports 50 Chinese Citizens in Cybercrime Sweep

Nigeria has launched an anti-cybercrime operation, resulting in the deportation of 50 Chinese citizens, as part of a campaign against foreign-led cybercrime networks. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced this action on Thursday, detailing that it is part of "Operation Eagle Sweep," which aims to dismantle significant cybercrime syndicates operating within the country.

The operation, which began on August 15, has led to the removal of 102 individuals and nearly 200 foreign nationals being arrested in coordinated raids. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that the deportations specifically target a Chinese-led network that has established operations in Lagos, taking advantage of the city’s status as a financial technology hub in West Africa.

The investigation revealed that these cybercriminals employ advanced social engineering techniques to defraud victims across Africa, Europe, and North America, often using romantic relationships to build trust. The EFCC has significantly expanded its cybercrime division over the past two years, developing special digital forensic capabilities and establishing international cooperation agreements with law enforcement agencies in China and Tunisia.