UNODC hails Nigeria’s Police Cybercrime Centre as Africa’s top unit

Abdullateef Fowewe

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has praised the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) as a “key functional unit in the fight against cybercrime” in its 2025 Annual Report on Cybercrime in Nigeria, spotlighting major busts and massive fund recoveries.

The report details the Centre’s standout operation arresting 93 Chinese nationals and other Asian suspects in large-scale cyber-enabled crimes, boosting its global profile.

In 2024, NPF-NCCC recovered ₦8,821,001,881.05, 115,237.91 USDT in cryptocurrency, and $84,000 USD—all returned to victims—while dismantling 685 cybercrime-linked devices.

This follows INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate naming NPF-NCCC the Best Cybercrime Unit in Africa, outshining teams from 54 countries during an event in Singapore.

The Centre also upgraded its public complaint system to an e-reporting platform for easier crime reports.

CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Force Public Relations Officer at Force Headquarters, shared the statement on Saturday, quoting the UNODC report: “UNODC COMMENDS NPF-NCCC AS A KEY FUNCTIONAL UNIT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME.”

During the report’s presentation to the NPF-NCCC Director, UNODC pledged ongoing support via funding, training, and tech tools.

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while reacting “commended UNODC for its continued collaboration and reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to ensuring a safer cyberspace for all.”