Internet fraudsters are fleeing Ekiti, a former senator said, who attributed the exodus to the state's current economic landscape [1].

This migration suggests a volatile relationship between illicit financial flows and local commerce. When urban economies rely heavily on the spending power of criminals, the resulting instability can drive those same actors away.

The former senator said the trend is linked to how the urban economy in Ekiti has come to depend on the spending power of internet fraudsters [1]. This reliance creates a precarious cycle where local businesses, and services, may become tied to the fluctuations of illegal earnings.

While specific numbers regarding the volume of departures were not provided, the former senator said the environment has shifted. The movement of these individuals reflects a broader tension between the immediate financial gains of fraud and the long-term stability of the region's economic infrastructure [1].

Ekiti has faced ongoing challenges regarding the social and economic impact of cybercrime. The departure of these individuals may signal a shift in how illicit wealth is distributed, or managed, within the region [1].

“Internet fraudsters are fleeing Ekiti”

The reported exodus of fraudsters from Ekiti highlights the 'Dutch Disease' equivalent in a criminal context, where an economy becomes so reliant on a single, illicit source of capital that it destabilizes traditional commerce. If the urban economy is built on the spending of cybercriminals, any disruption in those flows or increase in enforcement creates a systemic shock that can lead to rapid economic contraction and the displacement of the illicit actors themselves.