Nigerians wanted in the US for alleged romance scams to be extradited from South Africa

What the report says

South African police said six Nigerian men wanted in the United States over alleged online romance scams are being handed over to FBI agents in Johannesburg on Friday, according to BBC Africa. The men were arrested in South Africa in 2021 and are expected to be taken from a correctional facility in Cape Town to the airport before transfer to U.S. authorities.

The group is accused of targeting more than 100 women in the United States and defrauding them of more than 100 million rand, or about $6 million, South African authorities said. The BBC reported that some victims were pensioners and businesspeople who were lured through fake online relationships. South African police also said the men are believed to be linked to Black Axe, a Nigerian criminal network associated with internet fraud, trafficking and violence.

On arrival in the U.S., the six are set to face wire fraud and money-laundering charges, according to the South African police statement cited by BBC Africa. The case fits a broader international crackdown on online scam networks operating across borders. In general, such cases often involve cooperation between national police forces, U.S. agencies and Interpol, though the BBC article focused on this specific extradition and the allegations surrounding it.