The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has stated that foreign cybercriminals convicted in Nigeria will be deported after serving their prison terms.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day National Cybersecurity Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Olukoyede warned of the rising threat cybercrime poses to Nigeria’s digital economy.

He said the Commission is strengthening efforts to combat the menace through international partnerships and homegrown rehabilitation programmes.

Olukoyede opened his remarks by thanking the National Information Technology Development Agency for organizing the conference, which is centered on building a resilient digital future for Nigeria.

He underscored the urgent need to safeguard the nation’s expanding digital landscape.

“I would like to speak to you on a matter that is not only critical to our security but also essential to the economic survival and growth of our nation,” he said.

The conference highlights Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation, marked by major strides in mobile banking, e-commerce, digital currencies, and other technology-driven sectors.

“Nigeria has rapidly embraced digital innovation and transformation. Today, we are home to one of the fastest-growing sectors in Africa. Our mobile banking platforms, digital development systems, digital currency exchanges, and e-commerce activities are changing the economic landscape,” Olukoyede stated.

He also pointed out the vulnerabilities that come with this digital progress, especially in the financial sector, which continues to be a major target for cybercriminals.

“The financial and digital ecosystem is particularly vulnerable, not only because of its susceptibility to the economy but also due to the high value of its data and assets,” he said.

Olukoyede warned of the rising complexity of cyber threats, such as phishing schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and data breaches, all of which pose serious risks to Nigeria’s digital economy.

“Cybercriminals are operating across borders, compromising national security, and damaging Nigeria’s global reputation,” Olukoyede warned.

Olukoyede disclosed that the EFCC recently dismantled one of the largest international cybercrime syndicates operating in Nigeria, marking a major breakthrough in the Commission’s fight against digital crime.

“Sometime last year in December, we busted one of the biggest international cyber fraud syndicates in Nigeria, consisting mostly of foreigners, using Nigerian identities to perpetrate fraud. We arrested 194 of them in one operation,” he revealed.

“Of those arrested, 182 were foreign nationals, and 146 have already been convicted. Olukoyede confirmed that once they have served their sentences, these foreign cybercriminals will be deported. “After the jail time, they will be repatriated back to their country,” he added.

The EFCC Chairman also emphasized the vital role of international collaboration in the fight against cybercrime.

“We have been able to work closely with the FBI, Interpol, and UK authorities. Last month, on the invitation of the FBI and the Cambodian government, we signed an agreement to intensify efforts against international cybercrime,” he said.

Olukoyede stressed that such collaboration is essential to bolstering Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework and preventing the country from being exploited as a hub for transnational cybercrime.