The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has deported 42 foreign nationals, including Chinese and Philippine citizens, who were convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos for cybercrime-related offences.
The deportees, who left Nigeria on Sunday, August 17, were found guilty of engaging in cyberterrorism, Ponzi schemes, and other online fraud activities. Their conviction followed a major security operation on December 10, 2024, when operatives raided Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, arresting 759 suspects, among them 192 foreigners.
According to the NIS, the 42 deportees represent the first batch, while other convicted individuals will be repatriated in phases, with more groups scheduled to leave Nigeria on Monday and Tuesday.
In a related development earlier this month, a Federal High Court in Abuja also convicted 21 foreign nationals from China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand for cybercrime and money laundering. Each convict was fined ₦1 million and ordered to be deported within six working days.
Authorities say the clampdown is part of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to tackling transnational cybercrime syndicates operating within its borders. Security agencies insist that the coordinated raids and subsequent deportations underscore a multi-pronged strategy to protect Nigeria’s cyberspace and financial system from foreign-led fraud networks.
