Nigerians accuse FBI of racial profiling in alleged fraud cases

Nigerians on social media are accusing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of racism in its profiling of fraud suspects.

The FBI had on Saturday morning via a tweet headlined six Nigerians in its list of 79 persons wanted for fraud-related offences.

The six Nigerians are accused of alleged internet-related fraud that caused American citizens and businesses over $6 million losses.

Despite the list containing 73 others which include Chinese, Russians and Arabs, some social media users say the FBI unfairly used the six Nigerians as poster boys.

See their reactions below:

apparently, there are 79 people on the FBI wanted list.
16 Russians,
20 Chinese ,
37 men of arab descent
and only 6 nigerians.
One Russian was described to have stolen tens of millions
But guess who the FBI made poster boys- the 6 Nigerians.@channelstv @CNNAfrica https://t.co/rj27fH0ii3

— Ekun (@mosimiloluwa) June 27, 2020

Full article.. 73 others are Asians and Arabs

But it's the 6 Nigerians y'all selected to make headline.. bastards. https://t.co/Z4qPwtRQIX

— KF (@badniggafela) June 27, 2020

https://twitter.com/yvvngbaby/status/1276813931718291456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1276813931718291456%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qed.ng%2Fnigerians-accuse-fbi-of-racial-profiling-in-alleged-fraud-cases%2F

Lol, FBI used 6 Nigerians as clickbait

— IFY30 (✸,✸) (Ø,G) KGen (@ify30) June 27, 2020

Many great Nigerians have worked with the FBI, giving their lives and souls to their service. Alarmingly, those won't make FBI news headlines. When it comes to fraud activities by few bastards, trust FBI to blow it out of proportion. Na those 6 Nigerians go kee una!!

— DREY (@Drey_Lopek) June 27, 2020

Help the #FBI find 39 Arabians,
16 Russians, 20 Asians and
6 Nigerians wanted for their involvement in business email compromise (BEC) schemes resulting in over $6 million in loses.

Fixed it. You racists! #FugitiveFriday https://t.co/0o1N9rQZWp

— Victor Charles (@victorcharIes) June 27, 2020

This has a total of 79 of criminals which are 16 Russians, 20 Chinese ,6 NIGERIANS and 37 arabs. But yet the Nigerians are the poster boys and of course the headline. Anything to make us look bad huh? https://t.co/ez9yOjv5BR

— The Yinka Faj (@lordfaj) June 27, 2020

https://twitter.com/iamkehnny/status/1276813983035600897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1276813983035600897%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qed.ng%2Fnigerians-accuse-fbi-of-racial-profiling-in-alleged-fraud-cases%2F

Again, I see no reason why FBI's headline should trigger you. Did they not commit the crime ? Are we going to act as if we don't know a lot Nigerians commit cybercrimes?
Have they not stained our name as a country? Why are we suddenly being defensive? They deserve to be put..
1/3

— Iphisto (@Ipheesto) June 27, 2020

It was earlier reported how the US Department of State in a statement on June 16 indicted the suspects named as Richard Uzuh, Micheal Olorunyomi, Alex Ogunshakin, Felix Okpoh, Nnamdi Benson and Abiola Kayode.

Mr Uzuh, 34, is said to have targeted over 100 businesses in a single day and a loss in excess of $6,300,000 can be attributed to a scheme he led.

Mr Olorunyomi, 37, has losses exceeding $1m attributed to the romance fraud scheme he led.

Mr Ogunshakin, 37, is said to have provided financial, material, and technological support for Uzuh.

Mr Okpoh, 31, is also said to have provided technological support to Uzuh.

Mr Benson, 33, is also alleged to have working closely with Uzuh in romance scams and money laundering.

Mr Kayode, 32, is believed to have worked working closely with Uzuh and others involved in the scheme.