The inspector-general of police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu has known as for stronger cybersecurity measures to sort out insider threats, monetary fraud, id theft and different cyber-enabled crimes, warning that Nigeria’s digital setting has develop into central to nationwide safety.
Disu mentioned combating cybercrime required a proactive and intelligence-driven strategy that might allow safety businesses to determine vulnerabilities, detect rising threats and disrupt felony actions earlier than they trigger important hurt.
The IGP spoke on the 2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign organised by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja, with the theme, “Towards a Resilient Cyberspace: Think Before You Click.”
Recall that LEADERSHIP had reported that cyberattacks on African organisations elevated by greater than 421 per cent between 2016 and 2025, exceeding the 307 per cent development recorded globally, based on a white paper by Mastercard.
He mentioned the rising reliance on digital platforms for financial actions, public providers and on a regular basis communication had created new alternatives but in addition uncovered residents, companies and establishments to cyber threats.
According to him, cybersecurity efforts should prolong past bodily areas to the networks, platforms and programs on which society more and more relies upon.
“We cannot wait until harm occurs. We must identify warning signs, understand emerging criminal methods, assess vulnerabilities and disrupt threats before they escalate,” Disu mentioned.
He confused the necessity for intelligence networking, menace evaluation, open-source intelligence, digital forensics and well timed info sharing to strengthen the nation’s response to cybercrime.
The police chief mentioned the nation should transfer from reacting to cyber incidents to anticipating and stopping assaults, including that such efforts have to be guided by the rule of regulation, human oversight and respect for basic human rights.
Disu additionally warned towards insider threats inside banks, monetary know-how firms, cost service suppliers and know-how corporations, noting that cyber dangers may originate from people with authentic entry to delicate programs.
He recognized malicious conduct, collusion, compromised credentials, abuse of privileges, negligence and weak oversight as attainable sources of insider threats.
He known as for stronger inner controls, worker screening, separation of duties, transaction monitoring, inner audits and unbiased oversight to cut back the dangers.
According to him, firewalls and encryption stay important however can not change efficient inner controls and accountability.
The IGP additional known as for a coordinated nationwide cybersecurity framework involving authorities establishments, regulation enforcement businesses, regulators, monetary establishments, know-how suppliers, educators, civil society organisations and the media.
He mentioned stronger collaboration would enhance menace intelligence sharing, incident reporting, coordinated responses and the preservation of digital proof.
Earlier, the director of the NPF-NCCC, assistant inspector-general of police Akaninyene Ezima mentioned cybersecurity consciousness should develop into a part of on a regular basis life somewhat than stay the unique accountability of technical specialists and regulation enforcement businesses.
Ezima warned that cybercriminals have been turning into extra subtle and more and more exploiting public belief, human feelings and rising applied sciences, together with synthetic intelligence, to defraud unsuspecting victims.
He mentioned the police have been strengthening their capability to forestall, detect, examine and disrupt cybercrime by means of technical enhancements, skilled coaching, intelligence sharing and partnerships with native and worldwide organisations.
The NPF-NCCC director additionally highlighted the potential of synthetic intelligence in analysing digital proof, figuring out suspicious patterns, detecting rising fraud traits and enhancing investigative effectivity.
However, he cautioned that AI-assisted policing have to be guided by the regulation, transparency, knowledge safety, human oversight and respect for basic rights.
He equally warned concerning the misuse of synthetic intelligence by criminals to create deepfakes, artificial identities, automated scams and convincing impersonation schemes.
Ezima urged Nigerians to undertake safer on-line practices, together with verifying suspicious messages, utilizing sturdy and distinctive passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication and avoiding unfamiliar hyperlinks.
He additionally suggested the general public to verify requests for cash or delicate info by means of trusted channels and to report cybercrime incidents promptly to regulation enforcement authorities.
He additional raised issues about sextortion, noting that on-line exploitation had, in some circumstances, contributed to victims taking their very own lives.
He urged victims to beat the concern and stigma related to reporting such incidents, stressing that early reporting may assist protect digital proof, help investigations and stop additional victimisation.
Ezima additionally drew consideration to Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, and so on.) Act, 2024, regarding cyberstalking, and warned that offences lined by the regulation may entice fines and imprisonment.
He appealed to younger Nigerians to not permit the pursuit of fast cash, on-line strain or felony recruitment to derail their future, urging them as an alternative to channel their digital abilities into cybersecurity, moral know-how, entrepreneurship and innovation.
The NPF-NCCC director expressed appreciation to Disu for supporting the renewal of operational licences and instruments beforehand wanted by the centre, in addition to facilitating help from growth companions.
He mentioned the marketing campaign was supposed to advertise safer on-line practices, enhance institutional preparedness and strengthen public confidence in efforts to fight cybercrime.
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