Nigeria Tops Africa in Cyberattacks, Facing 4,701 Weekly Threats per Organisation
Nigeria has emerged as the top target for cyberattacks in Africa, with organisations in the country facing an average of 4,701 attacks per week, according to the latest Global Threat Intelligence report by Check Point Research.
The figure represents a 12 per cent increase compared to December 2025 and far exceeds the African average of 2,864 attacks per organisation weekly. The data highlights the growing intensity of cyber threats in the region and suggests that attackers view Nigeria as a high-value target.
Globally, organisations faced an average of 2,090 cyberattacks per week in January 2026, a three per cent rise from December and a 17 per cent increase year-on-year, indicating that the escalation in cyber threats is not limited to Africa.
Among other African countries surveyed, Angola recorded 4,512 weekly attacks, down seven per cent from the previous year, while Kenya saw 2,172 weekly attacks, a 41 per cent decline. South Africa experienced 2,145 attacks per week, marking a 36 per cent increase year-on-year.
Head of Security Engineering for Africa at Check Point Software Technologies, Ian van Rensburg, warned that the data reflects not only a rise in attack volume but also increasing sophistication. “Cybercriminals are becoming more targeted and complex in their approaches, making it crucial for organisations to strengthen their digital defences”, he said.
