The Rise of Identity Theft, Cybercrime, and Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria: Lagos as a Digital Battleground
By Adebanjo Oluwatobiloba Emmanuel
Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic nerve centre, is a paradox of progress and peril. As the nation’s tech capital, it drives Africa’s digital revolution, hosting fintech giants like Flutterwave and Interswitch. Yet, beneath its Silicon Lagoon veneer lies a darker reality: Lagos has become the epicenter of identity theft and AI-driven cybercrime in West Africa.
With 65% of Nigeria’s internet users concentrated in urban areas and Lagos at the forefront the city mirrors both the opportunities and vulnerabilities of rapid digitization.
This write-up explores how cybercriminals exploit weak safeguards and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to target Lagosians, while also highlighting innovative solutions emerging from the city’s tech ecosystem.
Lagos: A Perfect Storm for Cybercrime
Lagos’s unique demographics and infrastructure make it a hotspot for cyber-related crimes: with a population of over 20 million residents, coupled with 85% internet penetration (NBS, 2023), create a vast attack surface. In Lagos, youth unemployment is at 42% and most of Lagos’s youth are jobless, driving many toward cybercrime syndicates known as “Yahoo Yahoo” networks. Lagos processes 65% of Nigeria’s digital transactions, attracting fraudsters seeking to exploit mobile banking and crypto platforms.
In 2023 alone, the Lagos State Police Command reported 12,000 cybercrime cases, with identity theft and AI-enabled scams rising by 200% since 2020.
The Identity Theft Epidemic
It is important to look at different ways identity theft has been so far. Below are some of the examples that have been used to steal people’s identity and engage in fraud.Identity theft in Lagos thrives on poor data governance and social engineering. Criminals target.
1. Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs). Hackers infiltrate bank databases or bribe insiders to access BVNs, enabling unauthorized loans and account takeovers. In 2022, a Lagos-based syndicate stole ₦3.2 billion using cloned BVNs.
2. SIM Swap Fraud: Corrupt telecom agents in hubs like Computer Village, Ikeja, hijack victims’ phone numbers to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA). Some would go as far as trying to retrieve your active line just to make sure that the sim on your phone is not your own number but an empty Sim card.
3. Public Wi-Fi Exploits: Free hotspots in locations like Lagos Island business districts are riddled with malware designed to harvest login credentials.
In July 2023, a phishing scam impersonating the Lagos State Government’s “Ilera Eko” health insurance program stole biometric data from 15,000 residents. Information like this needs to be highly protected since it is linked to people’s bank details. With the combination of other information they might be able to access confidential data of patients.
Some of the ways identity theft can be reduced or protected against cyber fraud actors are listed.
1. AI-Powered Policing
Lagos State Security Council (LSSC): Deployed an AI surveillance system, “Safe City Lagos,” integrating facial recognition at 1,000 CCTV points to track cybercrime suspects. Some of the CCTV cameras are now spoiled or stolen. These must be replaced to help build continuity to projects like this.
2. Public-Private Partnerships
Google’s CyberShujaa Initiative: Trains 5,000 Lagos SMEs annually on AI-driven threat detection. Programs like this should employ some of the graduating students after making them pass through a lot of tests to know if they are fit for the job.
In conclusion, Lagos embodies Africa’s digital promise and peril. While identity theft and AI-enabled cybercrime threaten its ascent, the city’s resilience lies in its ability to innovate. By leveraging its tech talent, tightening regulations, and fostering a culture of cyber-awareness, Lagos can transform from a crime hotspot into a global model for secure digital urbanization. The fight is not just about protecting data, it’s about safeguarding the future of Africa’s most dynamic city.
Adebanjo Oluwatobiloba Emmanuel, A Tech Expert writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
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Lagos Post Online,
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