Nigeria recorded more than 3,400 ransomware attacks last year, placing it among the top three African countries most targeted by cybercriminals, according to a new assessment by INTERPOL.
The international policing agencys 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.
