Reports Says Nigeria Records 24.1 Million Breached Accounts

Nigeria ranks third in Sub-Saharan Africa for data breaches, with 24.1 million compromised accounts recorded since 2004

A digital illustration showing a padlock icon broken by a cyber attack, representing data breaches in Nigeria.

Nigeria is facing a growing digital security crisis. A new report by cybersecurity firm Surfshark reveals that the country has recorded about 24.1 million compromised user accounts since 2004. This alarming figure places Nigeria as the third most affected nation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The data indicates that the threat is far from over. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 281,500 Nigerian accounts were leaked. This surge in breaches has ranked the country as the 34th most breached nation globally for that period.

Globally, the situation is just as concerning. The report shows that 210.3 million accounts were breached worldwide in early 2026. The United States leads the chart, accounting for 29 percent of all incidents, followed by France, India, and Brazil.

For Nigerians, the risks are personal and dangerous. Surfshark disclosed that over 7.5 million unique email addresses and 13 million passwords have been exposed. The leaked data includes highly sensitive details like payment card information and residential addresses.

Experts warn that this exposes millions to identity theft and financial fraud. The statistics show that 10 out of every 100 Nigerians have been affected by these breaches.

Surfshark’s Chief Security Officer, Tomas Stamulis, links the rising trend to the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence. He explains that as companies use more AI tools, they collect and store larger volumes of user data, creating bigger targets for cybercriminals.

Stamulis advises internet users to be cautious. He urges people to limit the sensitive information they share online to reduce the risk of being hacked.