The Nigeria Police Force has taken a major step in its fight against cybercrime with the graduation of 192 officers from an intensive training program on the Athena Forensic Intelligence Solution (AFIS).
The five-week capacity-building initiative, conducted in partnership with UK-based Radio Tactics Group Limited, equipped officers from all 36 state commands and 10 specialized formations with advanced digital forensic skills.
Held between July 9 and August 15, 2025, the training focused on critical cyber investigation techniques including threat identification, extraction of communication data from SIM cards and mobile devices, GPS tracking, biometric capture, and forensic hotlist analysis. Police authorities say these skills will enhance Nigeria’s capacity to tackle sophisticated cybercrimes ranging from financial fraud to digital impersonation.
The training’s impact became immediately evident as operatives from the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) arrested three suspects – Gbenga Samuel, Dele Titus and Olalekan Oke – for alleged cyberstalking, identity theft and a N3 million WhatsApp blackmail scheme. Forensic analysis of compromised accounts led to the arrests in Abuja and Lagos, with investigators uncovering an organized cybercrime network now under further scrutiny.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun described the initiative as part of the Force’s commitment to “modern and digitalized approaches” in combating cyber threats. “This training represents our determination to meet global best practices in policing the digital space,” the IGP stated, noting that participants were selected from across all police formations to ensure nationwide impact.
Security analysts have welcomed the development, noting that Nigeria’s cybercrime challenges require such specialized interventions. With financial losses from cyber fraud estimated at over $500 million annually, the police’s investment in cutting-edge forensic capabilities signals a strategic shift toward technology-driven law enforcement.
The graduated officers are expected to form the core of new cybercrime response teams across state commands, bringing their expertise in analyzing digital evidence to support complex investigations. Police authorities confirm plans for additional training batches as part of an ongoing digital transformation agenda for the Force.
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