Nigeria Sees 4,906 Weekly Cyberattacks in August 2026

In August 2026, Nigeria recorded an average of 4,906 cyberattacks per organization weekly, marking a 45% year-on-year increase, according to the Global Threat Intelligence report by Check Point Research. This figure places Nigeria among the most targeted markets in Africa, second only to Angola, which had 5,416 weekly attacks.

The global average was 2,422 weekly attacks per organization. The report indicated that the Energy and Utilities sector was the most targeted industry in Africa, followed by financial services and government institutions.

Lorna Hardie, regional director for Africa at Check Point Software, described the rising trend as a red flag for national economies. The report also noted that Qilin was the most active ransomware group in August, responsible for 15% of attacks.

Additionally, the ngCERT warned that cybercriminals executed a coordinated ATM cash-out operation against UBA Senegal, resulting in over $2 million in fraudulent withdrawals. The report emphasized the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, including phishing and malware deployment.