The report paints a complex picture of Nigeria’s cybersecurity landscape, noting that while government institutions and businesses are increasingly falling victim to ransomware attacks, criminal networks operating from the country continue to play a prominent role in business email compromise (BEC) schemes and international money laundering.

According to the report, Nigeria recorded 5,822 ransomware detections in 2025, placing it among Africa’s major ransomware hotspots.

“Nigeria recorded 5,822 ransomware detections, reflecting the country’s dual role as an origin and target of cybercrime,” INTERPOL stated.

The report warned that cybercriminal groups linked to Nigeria have evolved beyond traditional online fraud into sophisticated international money laundering operations.

“Threat actors based in Nigeria, active since 2021, have become central to international money laundering operations, routing illicit proceeds through crypto exchanges, shell companies, and mobile payment platforms,” the report noted.

INTERPOL also highlighted recent attacks on critical Nigerian public institutions, warning that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting agencies that provide essential government services.

Among the incidents cited was the compromise of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) website in 2025, which the organisation said underscored the vulnerability of key national institutions to cyber intrusions.

The report also referenced a ransomware attack on the Nigeria Customs Service in August 2025 that disrupted cargo clearance operations at major seaports.

According to INTERPOL, the incident resulted in an estimated $18 million in storage costs and caused significant delays in import processing.

Beyond ransomware, the report identified Nigeria as a continuing hotspot for Business Email Compromise (BEC), one of the world’s most profitable forms of cyber-enabled financial fraud.

INTERPOL urged African countries to strengthen cross-border cooperation, intelligence sharing and cybersecurity capabilities to counter increasingly sophisticated cyber threats across the continent.

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The operation, known as Operation Synergia III, ran from July 18, 2025, to January 31, 2026, and involved law enforcement agencies from 72 countries and territories, including Nigeria.

According to INTERPOL, the coordinated effort led to 94 arrests, while 110 additional suspects remain under investigation. Authorities also seized 212 electronic devices and servers used to carry out cybercrime activities.

Neal Jetton, Director of the Cybercrime Directorate at INTERPOL, said the operation demonstrates the power of international cooperation in tackling increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

“Cybercrime in 2026 is more sophisticated and destructive than ever before, but Operation Synergia III stands as a powerful testament to what global cooperation can achieve,” Jetton said.

He added that INTERPOL will continue working with law enforcement agencies and private-sector partners to dismantle cybercriminal networks and protect victims worldwide.

The operation was supported by cybersecurity firms including Group-IB, Trend Micro and S2W, which helped identify malicious infrastructure and track cybercriminal activity.

Authorities uncovered a wide range of cybercrime schemes during the investigation.

In Macau, investigators identified more than 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites, many disguised as online casinos or legitimate banking and government platforms designed to steal victims’ personal and financial data.

In Togo, police arrested 10 suspects accused of running a fraud network that hacked social media accounts and carried out romance scams and sextortion schemes.

Meanwhile, authorities in Bangladesh arrested 40 suspects and seized 134 electronic devices connected to cybercrime operations involving loan scams, job scams, identity theft and credit card fraud.

INTERPOL said investigations linked to the operation are still ongoing as law enforcement agencies continue working to dismantle cybercrime networks and identify additional suspects.

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The international policing agency’s Africa Cyberthreat report highlights a sharp rise in ransomware and extortion campaigns across the continent, with Nigeria accounting for a significant share of reported incidents.

The report attributes the increase to the rapid expansion of digital services and remote work, combined with inadequate cyber defences among businesses and public institutions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been identified as especially vulnerable due to limited technical capacity and a lack of incident response plans.

Cybersecurity experts have described the trend as an urgent wake-up call for both the government and private sector. Many have renewed calls for updated cybercrime legislation, mandatory breach reporting, and stronger coordination between law enforcement and the tech industry.

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TECH DIGEST- Interpol’s Executive Director of Technology and Innovation, Madan Oberoi, stated that “not all acts that are criminalized” offline “are considered crimes when committed in the virtual world.” Oberoi stressed the importance of cutting off “future criminal markets before they are fully formed.”

Interpol has presented the first metaverse for law enforcement. Because some crimes committed in the physical world are not yet regulated in the virtual world, the organization determines that criminals are already taking advantage of the relative anarchy.

Interpol announced the platform’s introduction on Thursday during its 90th General Assembly in New Delhi. The international police body explained in a statement published on its website that users of the new metaverse can take a tour of a virtual re-creation of the Interpol General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France, interact with other officers, and take training courses in forensic investigation, among other policing capabilities.

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The Metaverse is based on the concept of the internet growing into a single, immersive virtual realm, accessible to users via virtual or altered reality headsets.

Several firms, like Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, which has been creating its own platform dubbed Horizon Worlds, have already sought to construct their own version of this online world.

“Criminals are already starting to exploit the Metaverse,” Interpol warned in Thursday’s statement. The organization cooperates with the World Economic Forum, Meta and Microsoft in preparing to tackle crime in the newly emerging spaces.

Interpol says that as the number of Metaverse users grows, so too will the list of possible crimes, which will potentially include violations such as data theft, money laundering, financial fraud, counterfeiting, ransomware, phishing and even sexual assault and harassment.

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