Nigeria's tech industry on Monday slammed security agencies for the "illegal arrests" of web developers in the country, where authorities often accuse them of being internet fraudsters.

Outrage erupted from the tech community and on social media in Africa's most populous country over the weekend after Lagos-based software engineer Toni Astor said he was arrested, beaten and extorted for money by a notorious police unit.

Astor said officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) -- a force widely accused of human rights abuses -- assaulted him after discovering him with laptop and made him withdraw money from his accounts to pay them.

"Policemen there said you're the one spoiling the economy," Astor wrote on Twitter.

The incident brought together some 30 companies, investors and media outlets in Nigeria's budding tech industry to threaten a "class action lawsuit" under the banner #StopRobbingUs.

"SARS officers, Nigeria Police and all tactical units, targeting software engineers is a frequent occurrence in Lagos and this is the latest in a string of attacks," they said in a statement.

"This is an ongoing concern for Nigeria's tech community. A talent problem already exists in our sector, yet police, particularly SARS' harassment, accentuates the talent drain in our industry."

Nigeria's economic capital Lagos is a key tech hub for African developers.

But the West African nation is also a centre for cybercrime and fraud, perpetrated by organised gangs known locally as "Yahoo Yahoo boys".

Earlier this month Nigerian and US authorities said they had arrested nearly 300 people in a months-long crackdown on online scams to hijack wire transfers from companies and individuals.

Industry figures say web developers are regularly harassed and extorted by police authorities, who accuse web developers of being involved in cybercrime.

Bosun Tijani, CEO of Co-Creation Hub, told AFP that tech workers were often detained when found with a laptop.

He said firms were documenting cases of their workers being targeted around the country and called for police "to be trained in this area".

"It is driving talented young people away from this industry."

SARS officers have long faced allegations of widespread abuse and a prominent online campaign has called for the unit to be scrapped.

Nigerian police's complaint response unit said on Twitter that it was investigating the incident involving Astor.

eak/del/dl

YAHOO!

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Algeria army chief says Bouteflika brother's jail term 'just punishment'
Algiers (AFP) Sept 29, 2019
Algeria's army chief and de facto strongman on Sunday dubbed the sentencing of deposed president Abdelaziz Bouteflika's brother and several other ex-regime players to 15 years in jail "just punishment". "The just punishment handed down to certain elements of the gang... (amount to) realising an urgent and legitimate claim of the people," Ahmed Gaid Salah said. Said Bouteflika - whose brother resigned in the face of mass protests in early April - was sentenced on Wednesday for "undermining the ... read more