The International Police Organization, INTERPOL, has taken a significant step in fortifying Africa’s cyber defense mechanisms by appointing Nigerian Police Commissioner, CPINTERPOL Appoints a Nigerian Police as Heads of Cybercrime Units, as the Chairman of the African Heads of Cybercrime Units, a coalition comprising heads of 54 countries across the continent.
CP Uche, who currently serves as the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC), steps into this role following the tenure expiration of Ratjindua Tjivikua, the former head of Cybercrime of Namibia.
In his inaugural address at the Africa Working Group Meeting on Cybercrime, CP Uche highlighted the pressing need for concerted efforts to combat cyber threats in the region. He emphasized the vulnerability of African cyberspace due to the rapid adoption of new technologies juxtaposed with inadequate cybersecurity commitments among many African nations.
“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,” remarked CP Uche.
He underscored the urgency for collaborative action, advocating for the establishment of African Incident Response Mechanisms and Cybersecurity Frameworks on a Police-to-Police basis to streamline resource allocation and information sharing among law enforcement agencies.
Moreover, CP Uche stressed the imperative of specialized Cybercrime Units within African law enforcement agencies, lamenting the lack thereof in many countries. He urged member states to study and adopt models akin to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center to bolster their cybercrime investigative capacities.
Furthermore, CP Uche outlined key pillars for enhancing Africa’s cybersecurity posture, including investment in technology, infrastructure, and capacity building, as well as legislative support to enact robust cybersecurity laws and regulations.
He highlighted the profound impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on global cyberspace, necessitating a proactive approach to address emerging cyber threats. CP Uche pledged his commitment to fostering collaboration among member units to effectively prevent and investigate cybercrimes on the continent.
In her remarks, Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to cybersecurity as a cornerstone of national security. She emphasized ongoing efforts to reform the Nigerian police force and strengthen cybersecurity legal and regulatory frameworks in alignment with the country’s development agenda.
The appointment of CP Ifeanyi Henry Uche By INTERPOL as Chairman of the African Heads of Cybercrime Units marks a pivotal moment in Africa’s cybersecurity landscape, despite Nigeria’s international ranking as as the worst police force in the world.
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