The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has updated its public register of 28 Nigerian nationals convicted of cybercrime and fraud, publishing their names, photographs, and specific crimes on its 'Worst of the Worst' (WOW) portal. These individuals, commonly referred to as Yahoo Boys, are prioritized for deportation after completing their prison sentences.
Details of the Deportation List
The list, which has generated significant attention on social media, includes 27 online scammers out of 124 Nigerian nationals currently flagged for deportation. The DHS, through its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division, maintains the WOW portal to track non-citizens convicted of serious crimes. By filtering the database under Nigeria's country code, public records show 124 Nigerians are active deportation targets.
Crimes Committed by the Deportees
The offenses fall into three major categories: cybercrime and financial fraud (including Business Email Compromise (BEC), romance scams, wire fraud, and identity theft); drug trafficking and violent crimes (importing hard drugs, armed robbery, and gang affiliation); and government benefits fraud (exploiting pandemic-related funds and identity theft).
High-Profile Individuals on the List
Among the notable names are Oludayo Adeagbo, sentenced to seven years in US federal prison in 2024 for BEC schemes that defrauded a North Carolina university of $1.9 million and attempted to steal an additional $3 million from Texas companies and local governments. Oriyomi Aloba received a 145-month prison sentence for hacking into the Los Angeles Superior Court computer system to send over two million malicious phishing emails. Chibundu Anuebunwa was sentenced to 66 months for a $2.5 million BEC scheme impersonating corporate executives. Quazeem Adeyinka was sentenced to 26 months for wire fraud conspiracy, stealing over $2.2 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits. Olaolu Alabi, a 40-year-old Maryland resident, was sentenced to 66 months for wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft, defrauding businesses of over $1.5 million using stolen identities for pandemic relief claims.
Complete List of Deportees
Other named individuals include: Chika Nwafo, Uchechukwu Eze, Dumbor Baribe, Yusuf Bakare, Adesina Surajudeen Lasisi, Eghosa Obaretin, Stephen Oseghale, Alex Afolabi Oligunshakin, Obinwanne Okeke, Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe, Ekanem Okes, Tolumni Ajidagba, Afolabi Solaji, Olusegun Martins, Luke Eguno, Akeem Akinsike, Saka Jibril, Edward Oforstedor, Victor Akegbeji, Richard Ugbah, Oluwafemiwa Oladoye, Eze Chukwudi Ezeoke, and Olaolu Alaje.
Deportation Process
The DHS did not disclose exact deportation dates. According to US immigration procedures, the process is handled individually; deportees will be repatriated to Nigeria once they complete their custodial sentences or resolve administrative and legal challenges.
