The Federal Government has deported 42 foreign nationals from China and the Philippines who were convicted for various cybercrime offences across the country.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Interior confirmed that the convicts, who had served different jail terms after being found guilty of internet fraud, identity theft, and financial scams, were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for deportation.
According to the statement, the deportees had been prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and convicted by different courts between 2022 and 2024 before serving their prison sentences.
“Following the completion of their jail terms, 42 foreign nationals comprising 28 Chinese and 14 Filipinos were yesterday repatriated to their home countries. This exercise underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ridding the country of transnational crime syndicates,” the statement read.
Officials said the deportees were placed on a permanent blacklist and barred from re-entering Nigeria.
The Ministry further noted that the deportation was carried out in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), and the embassies of the affected countries.
Security analysts have raised concerns over the growing involvement of foreign nationals in cyber-enabled crimes in Nigeria, warning that such syndicates exploit local accomplices to defraud unsuspecting victims both within and outside the country.
The government assured that it would continue to strengthen its cybercrime laws, enhance cross-border security cooperation, and deploy technology-driven intelligence to combat cyber fraud.
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