The Nigeria Police Force high command cyber squad, dismantled no fewer than 5,049 malicious and fraudulent domains and networks, including major cybercrime syndicates that operated within and beyond Nigeria’s borders last year.
The cyber squad also known and popularly called ‘Cyber Hawks,’ apprehended over 751 fraudulent suspects majority of them currently facing charges of cybercrime threat related offences, while 685 devices were recovered.
The items recovered includes 467 mobile phones, 137 laptops/computers, 46 routers, 4 servers, 1 drone, and 4 Starlink devices.
Police Force spokesperson ACP Muyiwa Adejobi and the Commissioner of Police in charge of the squad, CP Ifeanyi Henry Uche made these disclosures on Tuesday in Abuja .
According to them, 16 houses, 39 plots of land, and 14 land documents were confiscated, alongside 26 vehicles last year.
About 508 cybercrime cases were reported, including sextortion and cyberstalking.
The department secured 14 convictions in court and recover the sum of N8.82 billion, 115,237.91 USDT, and $84,000, which have been restituted to the victims.
Adejobi said that 2024 was a year of remarkable achievements, significant operational milestones, and numerous accolades for the Nigeria Police particularly the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC).
“These accomplishments underscore the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding Nigeria’s digital landscape and combating cybercrime effectively.
He recalled that “in early 2024, the NPF-NCC relaunched an upgraded Cybercrime E-Reporting System, enhancing accessibility and streamlining the process for citizens to report cyber incidents, including extortion, cryptocurrency and investment scams, cyberstalking, and other cybercrime trends.
“This system has significantly increased reporting efficiency, enabling quicker response times and more effective case management,” he said.
The Centre last year spearheaded a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness campaign, through workshops, seminars, and digital platforms , and “the initiative focused on educating the public about online safety practices and the importance of reporting cyber threats.”
He assured that the Centre is poised to tackle emerging cyber threats and to safeguard Nigeria’s digital cyberspace and ensure the protection of victims of cybercrime.