Following the FBI’s release of a list containing about 80 Nigerians who were involved in a money laundering case, Nigerians have taken to social media platform, Twitter to react and express their views on the matter.
The United States Department of Justice had released a statement on Thursday which included the list and the charges including conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and aggravated identity theft among other substantive charges.
According to the FBI, it was said to be one of the biggest online fraud case that have gone down in history.
Reactions: The feelings portrayed in the reactions ranged from anger to embarrassment, shock, irritation and disgust. While some people thought we should take this in a positive light and call out Nigerians making us proud, others thought otherwise. This is as some even went as far as expressing ethnic sentiment on the scandal.
Good morning. #ThisIsYourConscienceSpeaking. When people disgrace our country by engaging in fraud, our reaction should not be “It’s not only us” or “It’s because we are poor.” We should condemn the perpetrators and list 80 Nigerians making us proud around the world. Think am o.
— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) August 23, 2019
80 Nigerians have muddied the water for 190million Nigerians.
Shout out to all the #YoungNlegit individuals waking up at 4am everyday to make ends meet.
If the arrest and prosecution of the 80 Nigerians would lead to redemption, God redeem the image of this nation for us.
— Lawali?♥ (@official_dlaw) August 23, 2019
Others also dwelt on how this issue is going to affect the nation as a whole and ruin opportunities for Nigerians.
Until every foreign country bans Nigerians from entry before our eyes will clear. Only Nigerians robbed a bank in Dubai, now 80 Nigerians arrested in USA for cyber scam, many still awaiting death sentence in Asian countries for drug trafficking. Abeg who curse us.
— nkem okwuhor (@NOkwuhor) August 22, 2019
Very much after this 80 Nigerians news
Person : "okay, so where are you chatting from""I'm chatting from Nigeri.."
Person : pic.twitter.com/Oqn0Nnj9mY
— S.O.G◾ (@Seun_Seunn) August 23, 2019
The painful thing about this 80 Nigerians FBI fraud thing is, people with legit hustle trying to pitch their way to brands & companies over there will be finding it hard to work with them.
Another bad stain on the country’s image ?
— Ayoola (@i_olaelixir) August 22, 2019
News : 80 Nigerians involved in one of the largest fraud in U.S history
Me : *Chatting with a potential client on fiverr*
Client : So you from where?
Me : *typing* Nigeri..
Client : pic.twitter.com/LXQqoGQrJ4
— Product of Grace?|| Aburo omo iya Ologi.?? (@ShegunTweets) August 23, 2019
Others tagged the list to tribe by calling out Igbos stating that they were tarnishing the image of fellow Nigerians. This caused a tribalism war as others disagreed with this claim.
FBI arraigned 80 Nigerians in connection to what they described as the “largest fraud” in US history, plot this data against tribe and you will notice a pattern, nearly all of them are IGBO people rubbishing our National identity internationally! pic.twitter.com/bPGUguAEnK
— Naufal Ahmad N E T I Z E N. (@9aufal) August 22, 2019
Pinning the 80 Nigerians Arrested to Tribe is such a good thing to do but when Bombs are pinned to a particular Tribe/Religion you find it offensive ? https://t.co/R7cmgx4hu5
— King N●-N● ? (@Zaddy_nomso) August 23, 2019
Yahoo ni babalawo Ole ni everybody
That FBI indicted 80 Nigerians for fraud and majority of them turned out to be Igbo doesn’t mean it’s an Igbo thing. Majority of the fraud guys I’ve seen are Yoruba
We need to collectively fix Nigeria’s image not start a tribal war
Be wise.
— Pastor Ola ✨ (@Biisi96) August 23, 2019
However, some people were of the opinion that Okeke “Invictus” Obiwanne who was arrested about a week ago for $11 million computer fraud was in connection with this list.
Oh not again. 80 Nigerians. Is like invictus obi has started mentioning names o. It is now like a cartel of Fraudsters.
FBI arrest another 80 nigerians.
I will post the names so you can check if your brother in the USA is among#Thread pic.twitter.com/pqBsEy6PNU— Naija savage replies (@SavageNaija1) August 22, 2019
*Hits blunt*
If Invictus Obi snitched on 80 Nigerians so that they might reduce his sentence. That means those 80 Nigerians will snitch on others to reduce their sentence to. Before you know The FBI will carry all the yahoo yahoo boys in this country. Chineke anyi Di imirimius pic.twitter.com/2b6nNS0thA
— Karim (@chase__wearz) August 23, 2019
