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Eleven suspected terrorists, including top operatives of extremist groups, have been arrested in Nigeria following a sweeping international security operation jointly coordinated by INTERPOL and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL).
The operation, code-named Operation Catalyst, targeted terrorism financing and transnational criminal networks across Africa. It was conducted between July and September 2025 in six countries — Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.
According to a statement released by INTERPOL and obtained on Thursday, the two-month operation led to 83 arrests and the identification of 160 persons of interest involved in terrorism financing, money laundering, cyber-enabled fraud, and the illegal use of virtual currencies.
“In Nigeria, the operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including high-level members of several terrorist groups,” INTERPOL said.
The statement revealed that those arrested are believed to be senior figures with operational links to multiple extremist organisations active within Nigeria and across the Sahel region.
Investigators also discovered a massive cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme posing as an online investment platform. The fraudulent scheme reportedly defrauded victims in at least 17 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Cameroon, of more than $562 million.
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“The scheme accumulated more than 100,000 victims globally. Investigations found that several large-valued crypto wallets were potentially linked to terrorism financing activities. The case remains under active investigation,” the statement noted.
INTERPOL further disclosed that as part of Operation Catalyst, a Red Notice had been issued for a suspect believed to be the mastermind of another sophisticated cryptocurrency scam that stole approximately $5 million, laundering the funds through multiple addresses and centralized exchanges to conceal the source.
INTERPOL Secretary General, Valdecy Urquiza, said the operation highlighted the strength and impact of cross-border law enforcement collaboration in combating terrorism financing.
“Operation Catalyst shows the power of coordinated global law enforcement action in dismantling the complex web of terrorism financing,” he said.
Echoing this, AFRIPOL Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, hailed the success of the joint mission, describing it as a significant step forward in Africa’s unified security response.
“This joint effort shows how coordinated action among member states can effectively address evolving security threats and contribute to a stable and secure Africa,” Chelba added.
The suspects arrested in Nigeria are currently under investigation, with authorities working to trace the full extent of their financial and operational links to regional terrorist networks.
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