AsianFin -- Nigeria has deported 102 foreign nationals, including 50 Chinese citizens, following their convictions for cybercrime-related offenses, including internet fraud and cyber-terrorism, the western African country's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Thursday.

The EFCC said that the deportations, which began on August 15, also included one Tunisian national. Additional repatriations are expected in the coming days as authorities continue to process foreign nationals involved in cybercrime.

The deportees were among 792 suspects arrested during a large-scale cybercrime crackdown in December in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. Of those arrested, 192 were foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese citizens, the commission said.

Nigeria has long grappled with a reputation for online fraud, often linked to so-called “Yahoo Boys”—a term used locally to describe individuals engaged in internet scams. The EFCC has raided several locations across the country where cybercrime skills are reportedly taught to young recruits.

According to the agency, foreign syndicates have been actively collaborating with local operatives to conduct phishing scams targeting individuals primarily in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. These scams typically involve deceiving victims into revealing sensitive information or transferring funds.

Cybersecurity experts have warned that international cybercrime networks are increasingly exploiting Nigeria’s limited digital security infrastructure to establish operational bases and expand their reach.