THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN COMBATING CYBERCRIME IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Cybercrime has become a major threat to Nigeria’s security and economic stability, with crimes such as internet fraud, identity theft, and ransomware increasingly undermining public trust in digital platforms. Although Nigeria enacted the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and related statutes to address these challenges, cybercriminals continue to exploit technological loopholes and jurisdictional gaps. This paper examines the role of law enforcement agencies in combating cybercrime in Nigeria, with emphasis on their mandates, strategies, achievements, and constraints. The study identifies the core problem as the widening gap between the improvements on cybercriminal activities and the limited technical, legal, and institutional capacity of Nigerian law enforcement agencies. Despite the involvement of key institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), enforcement remains hampered by inadequate funding, insufficient manpower, slow judicial processes, and weak inter-agency coordination. Adopting a doctrinal research methodology, the study relies on statutory provisions, judicial decisions, and scholarly works to evaluate the effectiveness of Nigeria’s legal and institutional response to cybercrime. Findings reveal notable successes, including high-profile arrests, asset recovery, and collaborative operations with international bodies such as INTERPOL and the FBI, but these remain insufficient given the scale of cyber threats. The paper recommends targeted capacity building, legislative reforms, stronger international cooperation, increased funding, and public-private partnerships to enhance Nigeria’s cyber resilience. It concludes that a unified, proactive, and technology-driven national strategy is essential for securing Nigeria’s cyberspace and protecting its digital economy.