Cybercrime: IGP Warns Against Insider Threats, Urges Nigerians To Think Before Clicking

The inspector-general of police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu has called for stronger cybersecurity measures to tackle insider threats, financial fraud, identity theft and other cyber-enabled crimes, warning that Nigeria’s digital environment has become central to national security.

Disu said combating cybercrime required a proactive and intelligence-driven approach that would enable security agencies to identify vulnerabilities, detect emerging threats and disrupt criminal activities before they cause significant harm.

The IGP spoke at 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 increased by more than 421 per cent between 2016 and 2025, exceeding the 307 per cent growth recorded globally, according to a white paper by Mastercard.

He said the increasing reliance on digital platforms for economic activities, public services and everyday communication had created new opportunities but also exposed citizens, businesses and institutions to cyber threats.

According to him, cybersecurity efforts must extend beyond physical spaces to the networks, platforms and systems on which society increasingly depends.

“We cannot wait until harm occurs. We must identify warning signs, understand emerging criminal methods, assess vulnerabilities and disrupt threats before they escalate,” Disu said.

He stressed the need for intelligence networking, threat analysis, open-source intelligence, digital forensics and timely information sharing to strengthen the country’s response to cybercrime.

The police chief said the country must move from reacting to cyber incidents to anticipating and preventing attacks, adding that such efforts must be guided by the rule of law, human oversight and respect for fundamental human rights.

Disu also warned against insider threats within banks, financial technology companies, payment service providers and technology firms, noting that cyber risks could originate from individuals with legitimate access to sensitive systems.

He identified malicious conduct, collusion, compromised credentials, abuse of privileges, negligence and weak oversight as possible sources of insider threats.

He called for stronger internal controls, employee screening, separation of duties, transaction monitoring, internal audits and independent oversight to reduce the risks.

According to him, firewalls and encryption remain essential but cannot replace effective internal controls and accountability.

The IGP further called for a coordinated national cybersecurity framework involving government institutions, law enforcement agencies, regulators, financial institutions, technology providers, educators, civil society organisations and the media.

He said stronger collaboration would improve threat intelligence sharing, incident reporting, coordinated responses and the preservation of digital evidence.

Earlier, the director of the NPF-NCCC, assistant inspector-general of police Akaninyene Ezima said cybersecurity awareness must become part of everyday life rather than remain the exclusive responsibility of technical experts and law enforcement agencies.

Ezima warned that cybercriminals were becoming more sophisticated and increasingly exploiting public trust, human emotions and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to defraud unsuspecting victims.

He said the police were strengthening their capacity to prevent, detect, investigate and disrupt cybercrime through technical improvements, professional training, intelligence sharing and partnerships with local and international organisations.

The NPF-NCCC director also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence in analysing digital evidence, identifying suspicious patterns, detecting emerging fraud trends and improving investigative efficiency.

However, he cautioned that AI-assisted policing must be guided by the law, transparency, data protection, human oversight and respect for fundamental rights.

He equally warned about the misuse of artificial intelligence by criminals to create deepfakes, synthetic identities, automated scams and convincing impersonation schemes.

Ezima urged Nigerians to adopt safer online practices, including verifying suspicious messages, using strong and unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication and avoiding unfamiliar links.

He also advised the public to confirm requests for money or sensitive information through trusted channels and to report cybercrime incidents promptly to law enforcement authorities.

He further raised concerns about sextortion, noting that online exploitation had, in some cases, contributed to victims taking their own lives.

He urged victims to overcome the fear and stigma associated with reporting such incidents, stressing that early reporting could help preserve digital evidence, support investigations and prevent further victimisation.

Ezima also drew attention to Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, concerning cyberstalking, and warned that offences covered by the law could attract fines and imprisonment.

He appealed to young Nigerians not to allow the pursuit of quick money, online pressure or criminal recruitment to derail their future, urging them instead to channel their digital skills into cybersecurity, ethical technology, entrepreneurship and innovation.

The NPF-NCCC director expressed appreciation to Disu for supporting the renewal of operational licences and tools previously needed by the centre, as well as facilitating support from development partners.

He said the campaign was intended to promote safer online practices, improve institutional preparedness and strengthen public confidence in efforts to combat cybercrime.