A Nigerian court sentenced 15 foreign nationals to one year in prison for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed the group included 11 Filipinos, two Chinese, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian.
Each convict was fined one million naira, roughly $630, in Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital.
They pleaded guilty to recruiting young Nigerians for identity theft and posing as foreigners online, the EFCC spokesman said.
Judges also ordered all devices seized from the convicts to be forfeited to the Nigerian government.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, struggles with a persistent reputation for internet fraud, locally dubbed “Yahoo Boys.”
Authorities have raided numerous hideouts where young criminals are trained in online scams and fraudulent schemes.
Cybercrime experts warn foreign syndicates exploit Nigeria’s weak cybersecurity infrastructure to orchestrate complex scams.
The EFCC detailed how foreign gangs recruit Nigerian accomplices to target victims via phishing scams and financial deception.
These scams primarily focus on victims from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, according to the agency.
In December, the EFCC arrested 792 suspects during a major operation in Lagos’s affluent Victoria Island area.
Among those detained, 192 were foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese, highlighting the international reach of these networks.
Several Chinese suspects remain on trial for related internet fraud activities, underscoring ongoing cross-border cybercrime concerns.
This case marks one of Nigeria’s largest crackdowns on foreign nationals involved in cybercrime, reflecting increased enforcement efforts.
The government continues to fight against cyber fraud, striving to protect its image and curb criminal exploitation online.
