South African police don hand over six Nigerians wey United States want for alleged online romance scams to FBI agents on Friday. South African authorities talk say the group target over 100 women for US and defraud them of more than 100m rand, wey be around $6m or £5m.
The people wey dem dey extradite, dem arrest them for 2021. Authorities believe say dem be members of crime syndicate Black Axe, na Nigerian mafia-style gang wey tie to human trafficking, internet fraud and murder.
Some of dia victims include pensioners and businesspeople. South Africa elite Hawks police unit talk say dem target these people through sophisticated online relationships wey dem use defraud dem of dia money.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale talk for statement say the group go move from correctional facility for Cape Town go airport on Friday morning. Na there dem go hand over to officials from FBI and United States Secret Service.
Mogale add say when dem reach US, dem go face wire fraud and money-laundering charges.
Black Axe na shadowy criminal network wey known for extreme violence and e dey operate across Africa, Europe and North America. BBC Eye investigation for 2021 suggest say the syndicate don become one of most far-reaching and dangerous organised crime groups for world.
Nigeria na its main recruitment ground. Many of its members go university and dem induct dem during schooling. The group don dey radar of law enforcement agencies for years.
FBI operations against Black Axe start November 2019 and September 2021. Eventually dem charge more than 35 individuals with multi-million dollar internet fraud. Since then, several other operations across multiple countries targeting Black Axe, co-ordinated by global policing agency Interpol, don happen.
Last month, Interpol talk say during its latest one, wey happen between November 2025 and June 2026, dem raid seven sites for South Africa linked to syndicate involved in romance and investment scams. E lead to arrests of 39 people, seizure of money and blocking of more than 250 bank accounts.
