Authorities in seven African countries have arrested 306 suspects and seized 1842 devices in a sweeping international operation targeting cyber-enabled fraud and scams.

Dubbed Operation Red Card, the effort ran from November 2024 to February 2025, focusing on dismantling cybercrime networks that defrauded over 5000 victims through mobile banking fraud, investment scams and malicious messaging app schemes., according to infosecurity-magazine.com

In Nigeria, police arrested 130 suspects, including 113 foreign nationals, for running fraudulent investment schemes and online casinos.

Authorities found that criminals funneled illicit proceeds into digital assets to obscure their financial trails.

Investigations also uncovered signs of human trafficking, with some individuals coerced into participating in the scams.

Law enforcement seized: 26 vehicles; 16 houses; 39 plots of land; and 685 electronic devices

In Rwanda, 45 individuals were arrested for orchestrating a social engineering scam that defrauded victims of more than $305,000 in 2024.

Scammers posed as telecommunications employees and falsely claimed victims had won lotteries to extract sensitive information.

Others impersonated injured family members to request emergency financial assistance.

Authorities recovered $103,043 and seized 292 devices.

South African authorities arrested 40 individuals and confiscated over 1000 SIM cards, along with 53 desktop computers and towers linked to a sophisticated SIM box fraud scheme.

This setup allowed cybercriminals to disguise international calls as local ones, facilitating large-scale SMS phishing attacks.

In Zambia, law enforcement apprehended 14 members of a cyber syndicate specializing in malware attacks.

The criminals sent phishing messages containing malicious links, infecting victims’ devices and taking control of messaging and banking apps. This enabled them to access financial accounts and further spread fraudulent links.

The operation was carried out through INTERPOL’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) initiative, which supports law enforcement efforts in combating cyber-threats.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office funded Operation Red Card under the AFJOC initiative, allocating £2.6m to enhance Africa’s law enforcement capabilities in detecting and preventing cybercrime.

The seven participating countries – Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, To and Zambia – continue to collaborate on intelligence-led cybercrime investigations.

“The success of Operation Red Card demonstrates the power of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, which knows no borders and can have devastating effects on individuals and communities,” commented Neal Jetton, Interpol’s director of the cybercrime directorate.

“The recovery of significant assets and devices, as well as the arrest of key suspects, sends a strong message to cyber-criminals that their activities will not go unpunished.”

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology (FMIST) and Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science & Technology (MEST) has announced the official launch of Sankore, a £1.9m initiative aimed at boosting science, technology, and innovation (ST&I) ecosystems in West Africa.

Sankore, part of the UK- Africa Technology and Innovation Partnerships (ATIP) Programme will strengthen UK ties with Nigeria and Ghana, supporting key agreements like the UK-Ghana ST&I Strategy (2023- 2027) and the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership signed in November 2024 by our Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP and Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.

Focusing on Nigeria and Ghana, Sankore will work closely with actors in West Africa to:

–  Support the operationalisation of the Ghana National Research Fund (GNRF) and the Nigeria National Research Fund (NRF).

–  Support Nigeria to operationalise its National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC).

–  Facilitate the commercialisation of innovative solutions in priority economic sectors such as agriculture and energy;

– Enhance the policy and regulatory environment for innovation, improving data accessibility and transparency for ecosystem actors;

– Establish a demand-driven Helpdesk supporting FCDO and government partners, providing expert guidance and advice.

Speaking at the programme launch in Abuja, UK’s Head of Intergrated Strategy and Delivery Unit, Ms. Susan Mshana, explained that the Sankore programme is an exciting addition that will strengthen the UK’s long-term partnership with West Africa governments and drive economic growth through innovation.

“By leveraging our skills, resources and expertise, we aim to accelerate shared goals of economic diversification job creation and improved service delivery in Nigeria and Ghana,” She added.

Also speaking, Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science & Technology (MEST) Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, said: “Innovation is a key enabler of a strong and inclusive economy. Sankore will be a catalyst to securing Ghana’s future as a hub for scientific advancement and technological innovation in the region, and we look forward to collaborating with the many partners who are bringing knowledge and expertise to this joint endeavour.”

Additionally, the Hon. Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Nigeria, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji said: “Our goal at the FMIST is to foster sustainable development by promoting homegrown innovation while integrating global scientific advancements to ensure Nigeria’s progress on the global stage and Sankore represents an important next phase in our valued and productive partnership with the UK in driving a brighter future for all Nigerians through cutting-edge technology and economic progress.”

Sankore will be delivered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Results for Development (R4D) collaborating with local and international partners to ensure effective implementation and knowledge transfer.

The initiative will run for 15-month, concluding by 31 March 2026.

Zainab Salami, executive director and co-founder, MSwitch Creative Hub, on Sunday revealed that over 53% of young Nigerians aged 15-24 are jobless, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic interventions to tackle the crisis.

She emphasized MSwitch’s commitment to empowering young creatives and digital professionals by equipping them with the skills and opportunities needed for sustainable careers.

Salami disclosed this in Abuja during the MSwitch launch of the ‘Remote Job Initiative,’ a groundbreaking program in partnership with AfriLabs, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global hub for digital excellence.

She emphasized that the initiative seeks to connect Nigerian talent with global employers, strengthening the country’s presence in the international digital economy.

She noted that the program aims to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by equipping youth with essential skills, access to global employers, and state-of-the-art co-working spaces.

Salami said: “Over 53% of young Nigerians aged 15-24 are either unemployed or underemployed. This program will create 2,000 remote job opportunities for young creatives and tech professionals, enabling them to earn, grow, and contribute to the nation’s economy without leaving the country.

“Beyond job placement, this initiative is designed to equip young professionals with the tools and environment needed for long-term success.

“To support this, we are investing in infrastructure and establishing fully equipped co-working spaces with 24/7 electricity, high-speed internet, cutting-edge technology, and industry-standard tools to maximize productivity.”

In his remarks, Ajibola Odukoya, chief operating officer, AfriLabs, described the organization’s expansive footprint across Africa and its dedication to capacity building.

He emphasized that beyond training, the next step is placing Africans in gainful employment.

Odukoya said: “AfriLabs is the largest network of innovation and technology hubs in Africa. We operate in 53 countries, across 225 cities, with 500 physical locations, and have about 80 million people in our ecosystem.

“We have partnered with international businesses and generated a pool of over 200,000 job vacancies targeted at Africans of all ages, as long as they qualify. To solve infrastructure challenges associated with remote work in Africa, we are using our innovation hubs, such as MSwitch in Abuja, as dedicated workstations with world-class facilities to support productivity,” Odukoya added.