Crime
Deportation of 192 Foreign Cyber-Terrorism Convicts in Lagos Completed (Images)
The deportation of the remaining 51 foreign nationals convicted and sentenced for cyber-terrorism, internet fraud, and related financial crimes in Lagos has been completed.
This brings the repatriation of the 192 foreigners involved in the crimes to a successful close.
It was conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The deportation followed a sting raid on December 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where 759 suspects were apprehended after the EFCC received actionable intelligence exposing one of the largest foreign-led cybercrime and Ponzi scheme syndicates operating in Nigeria.
After months of investigation and prosecution, the 192 foreign nationals were convicted by the Federal High Court in Lagos under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. The court also ordered their deportation upon completion of their prison terms.
The deportees, comprising Chinese, Filipino, Tunisian, Malaysian, Timor-Leste, Pakistani, and Kyrgyz nationals, were airlifted in coordinated batches between mid-August and mid-October 2025 through multiple airlines.
The large-scale repatriation exercise began on August 15, 2025, and the successful deportation of the last batch of convicts marks the conclusion of one of Nigeria’s biggest transnational cybercrime crackdowns in recent years.
In an official statement, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede described the deportation as “a strong statement of Nigeria’s resolve to rid its cyberspace of transnational criminal networks.”
“This milestone underscores our commitment to protecting Nigeria’s digital and financial ecosystem. The EFCC, under my leadership, will continue to act swiftly on intelligence, prosecute offenders, and recover proceeds of crime in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s anti-corruption drive,” Olukoyede said.
The EFCC Chairman also commended the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Correctional Service for their seamless cooperation during the exercise, noting that the inter-agency collaboration ensured the safe custody, prosecution, and eventual repatriation of all convicts.
According to the EFCC’s deportation records, the first batch of 42 convicts, comprising Chinese and Filipino nationals, departed Nigeria on August 15, 2025, followed by several subsequent flights throughout August and September.
The final batch of 51 convicts, including 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian, was repatriated on October 16, 2025, bringing the total number deported to 192.
The Commission confirmed that the deported convicts were involved in a wide range of cyber fraud activities, including identity theft, online romance scams, Ponzi investment schemes, and digital training for cybercrime operations under the cover of a company, Genting International Co. Limited.
The EFCC noted that the syndicate’s activities posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s national security and financial integrity, adding that recovered digital devices and servers from the raid provided critical evidence during prosecution.
as Kidnappers Demand Release of Gang Membersetired Major General Rabe Abubakar has died while in captivity after being abducted by kidnappers, the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security has announced.
The retired senior officer passed away from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while being held alongside his wife, Amina Abubakar.
The couple was kidnapped within Matazu Local Government Area while travelling to Katsina.
A video recently circulated online showed the retired army general nursing a wound on his left foot during his time in captivity.
Reports indicate that the mastermind of the abduction demanded the release of three members of his gang, as well as some cattle, as conditions for freeing the couple.
The tragic development comes amid ongoing security challenges in parts of the North-West region.
Suspected bandits have killed 19 people and injured 12 others in a fresh attack on Gora Namaye district in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to Bello Hussaini, the councilor representing the Faru/Magami ward, the attackers stormed the community on motorcycles in large numbers and opened sporadic fire on residents, mostly farmers.
Hussaini said the bandits initially killed 18 people during the assault. One of the injured victims later succumbed to injuries, bringing the death toll to 19.
Efforts to get confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command proved unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that an unauthorised incursion by Cameroonian Armed Forces personnel into Danare Community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State is now fully under control.
According to a statement issued by the 82 Division Nigerian Army, troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Danare swiftly responded on June 9, 2026, after reports of the foreign military presence reached them. The Nigerian forces immediately contacted their Cameroonian counterparts, leading to the peaceful withdrawal of the Cameroonian troops from Nigerian territory in line with established border protocols. The situation was contained without any escalation or confrontation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident stemmed from a dispute over the collection of levies on farmland situated between Danare Community in Nigeria and Dadi Community in Cameroon.
In a bid to strengthen bilateral relations and prevent recurrence, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division has directed the Commander of 13 Brigade to engage his Cameroonian counterpart. The planned visit aims to enhance border coordination, clarify operational procedures, and build confidence between the two militaries.
The Division reassured residents of Danare and surrounding areas that the situation is calm and under full control, with troops maintaining heightened vigilance along the border.
“Residents of Danare and adjoining areas are reassured that the situation is calm and fully under control,” the statement added.
The Army urged members of the public to remain calm, go about their lawful activities, and avoid spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary tension in the area.
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