The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL)’s enforcement agencies across Africa arrested 1,209 major cybercriminals and recovered USD 97.4 million.

INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza, gave the statistics during the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

He explained that the operation, code-named Serengeti 2.0 and coordinated by INTERPOL between June and August 2025, targeted high-impact cybercrimes including ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), and online investment scams. “

The report said that Nigeria was one of 18 African countries, alongside the United Kingdom, that took part in the operation.

The wider African operation dismantled 11,432 malicious infrastructures, ranging from command-and-control servers to fraudulent domains.

In Angola authorities shut down 25 illegal cryptocurrency mining centres operated by 60 Chinese nationals who were unlawfully validating blockchain transactions to generate digital currency.

The crackdown also led to the seizure of 45 unauthorised power stations and mining equipment valued at over USD 37 million.”

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) announced that the fee for a 32-page passport with five-year validity will rise to N100,000, while a 64-page passport with ten-year validity will cost N200,00.

The new rates take effect from September 1, 2025.

NIS, in a a statement posted on its X handle yesterday, by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, said that the adjustment is aimed at sustaining the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport while ensuring efficient service delivery

The revised charges apply only to passport applications processed within Nigeria.

Before now, the 32-page Passport with five-year validity cost N50,000 after it was increased from N35,000.

Also, the 64-page passport with a 10-year, was N100,000 after being initially increased from N70, 000.

However, passport application fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged.

Applicants abroad will continue to pay $150 for a 32-page, five-year passport and $230 for a 64-page, ten-year passport.

It was all wailing yesterday at Eziakpu Village, Ikenga, Aguata LGA of Anambra State, during the burial of slain businessman, Mr Martins Ifesinachi Onyekesi, also know as Fish Magnate.

Onyekesi was a fish processor and seller who prominently advertised his trade on social media.

He was killed last month, after he was abducted by unknown persons, who later dumped his body in a nearby town, instructing his family to go pick him up.

During his burial on Thursday at Ikenga community, family, friends and sympathizers wailed as his corpse was lowered into mother earth.

It was a quick and solemn event which witnessed the presence of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyeka Ibezim who represented Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The event featured fewer speeches, except for the family’s prayers by his graveside.

His death has attracted reactions, including the visit of activist, Martins Otse, also known as Very Dark Man, who led a protest on the incident to call for an end to killings in Anambra State.