Nigeria’s top police officer, IGP Olatunji Disu, issued a strong warning this week about growing concerns over cybercrime nationwide. He cautioned Nigerians against accessing other people’s phones without permission; he also warned against sharing private images and creating fake accounts online.
The IGP’s warning came during the launch of the 2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign, held in Abuja. Disu stressed that offenders could face prosecution under existing cybercrime laws; he made clear that ignorance of these laws offers no protection.
He also spoke against cyberstalking, bullying, and spreading harmful false information. According to him, such actions can cause real panic and danger. IGP Disu’s warning placed special emphasis on protecting minors online; he strongly condemned sharing private images involving children as deeply serious offenses.
He explained how Nigeria’s growing digital dependence has created new risks such as fraud, identity theft, and data breaches now threaten individuals and institutions alike. Disu called for a shift in how authorities respond to these threats, he wants police to focus on prevention rather than reaction.
“We must move from incident response to threat anticipation, from reactive investigation to proactive disruption, and from analysing yesterday’s attack to preparing for tomorrow’s attack,” he said.
He also warned against lending out personal bank accounts or SIM cards, according to him, doing so could make someone complicit in fraud.
“Don’t lend anybody your bank account. If fraud passes through it, you may answer as an accomplice,” he said.
He urged financial institutions to strengthen their internal security measures. This includes better employee screening and stronger transaction monitoring systems.
Disu encouraged Nigerians to stay cautious with links and passwords online. He advised using multi-factor authentication to protect personal accounts.
“Think before you click. If you don’t know the person who sent you the message, you can ignore it. If you click, anything could happen. You can get a virus, and your account can be wiped out,” he warned.
He also encouraged young Nigerians to pursue legitimate tech careers instead. According to him, cybersecurity and software development offer better long-term paths.
“Cybercrime can cost you your freedom, your reputation and peace of mind. Choose creativity over criminality and integrity over shortcuts,” he said.
