Nigeria recorded 3,459 ransomware threat detections in 2024, ranking third in Africa behind Egypt and South Africa, according to INTERPOL's newly released Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report for 2025.
The report, based on data from INTERPOL's private sector partners, shows a significant rise in cyberattacks across the continent, especially in highly digitised economies. Egypt topped the chart with 17,849 ransomware cases, followed by South Africa with 12,281. Other countries in the top ten include Kenya, Gambia, and Ghana.
Ransomware, online scams, business email compromise (BEC), and sextortion were listed as Africa's top cyber threats, with variations in attack methods influenced by the region's digital maturity and cybersecurity preparedness.
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In West and East Africa, cybercrime now accounts for over 30% of all reported crimes. The report cites the April 2024 Flutterwave breach in Nigeria, where hackers allegedly stole $7 million, as one of the year's most significant incidents. Ransom demands often ranged from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, typically in cryptocurrency.
The economic toll has been heavy, affecting sectors such as finance, energy, government, and telecoms. Across Africa, organisations continue to face disruptions, data losses, and soaring recovery costs from these attacks.
INTERPOL has urged African governments and businesses to prioritise cybersecurity investments and adopt stronger digital defences to protect vital infrastructure and data systems.
