Nigerian police commissioner to head INTERPOL African Cybercrime units

The International Police Organisation has designated Nigerian Police Commissioner Ifeanyi Uche, as the Chairman of the African Heads of Cybercrime Units, encompassing leaders from 54 nations.

Uche, serving as the Commissioner of Police overseeing the NPF National Cyber Crime Centre, assumes the role from Ratjindua Tjivikua of Namibia, who completed his tenure as head of Cybercrime.

Uche, who spoke at the closing of the Africa Working Group Meeting on Cybercrime on Friday, emphasised the urgency of bolstering cybersecurity efforts in Africa due to the escalating threat of cybercrime.

He called for enhanced cooperation among law enforcement agencies and investment in technology and capacity building.

“The high penetration rate of new technologies in Africa increasingly exposes the sub-regional cyberspace as potential targets for cybercriminals, as most African countries still have low levels of commitment to cybersecurity.”

“It is important that we join the operational subgroups created by INTERPOL to bolster our collective efficiency in the fight against cybercrime in the subregion,” the CP said.

He stressed the importance of legislative support to enact robust cybersecurity laws and regulations.

Uche vowed to lead collaborative efforts to combat cybercrime effectively in Africa, advocating for indigenous technological solutions tailored to the continent’s needs.

“Cybercrime poses a significant threat to our societies, economies, and security.

“It is imperative that we work together to address this growing challenge. As Chairman, I am committed to leading from the front, fostering the much-desired collaboration among our member units to enhance our collective ability to prevent and investigate cybercrimes effectively in Africa.

“I consider this as a call to champion the enthronement of a new charter of technological renaissance and home-grown cybersecurity ethics in Africa and a paradigm shift from absolute dependence on external solutions to African nurtured technological initiatives, adaptive to our Socio-Political ecosystem,” he said.

The Nigerian Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Ibrahim, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cybersecurity and international cooperation to safeguard national and regional interests.

Ibrahim said, “The Government of Nigeria is fully committed to reforming our police force, recognizing that cybersecurity is an integral component of our national security agenda.

“We understand that a secure cyberspace is essential for our immediate and long-term development objectives. Therefore, we are dedicated to enhancing our cybersecurity capabilities, investing in the necessary resources, and fostering collaboration both domestically and internationally.

“We are working to enhance the provision of the requisite tools, equipment, and facilities to strengthen the cybersecurity architecture of the NPF, and we remain committed to regional and international cooperation mechanisms.”