The International Police Organization (INTERPOL) has appointed CP Ifeanyi Henry Uche, a Nigerian Police Commissioner, as the Chairman of the African Heads of Cybercrime Units.
This significant appointment follows the expiration of the tenure of Ratjindua Tjivikua, the former head of Cybercrime of Namibia. CP Uche now leads the cybercrime units comprising heads from 54 countries in Africa. With this role, CP Uche is tasked with spearheading efforts to combat cyber threats and enhance cybersecurity frameworks across the continent. He lamented that most African countries have low levels of commitment to cybersecurity.
“It is important that we join the operational subgroups created by INTERPOL to bolster our collective efficiency in the fight against cybercrime in the sub-region.”
The police chief strongly recommended establishing African Incident Response Mechanisms and Cybersecurity Frameworks on a Police-to-Police basis.
Uche emphasized that implementing these measures would remove obstacles hindering the smooth flow of resources.
“I advocate for the establishment of African Incident Response Mechanism and Cybersecurity Frameworks on a Police-to-Police basis to eliminate the bottlenecks impeding the free flow of resources.”
“We must leverage the INTERPOL NCB 1/247 communication network and existing capabilities with regard to sharing of classified intelligence.”
Uche’s appointment underscores Nigeria’s dedication to cybersecurity and signifies a step forward in the fight against cybercrime in Africa.