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AI-powered cyber threats put healthcare systems at risk

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Healthcare systems worldwide are facing a surge in cyberattacks supercharged by artificial intelligence, a new report has revealed.

According to data from the report, Nigeria’s private healthcare sector is now one of the most targeted on the African continent, with attacks increasing at an alarming rate.

As reported by The Papers, an online news platform on Wednesday, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a multinational cybersecurity firm, released a data-rich report highlighting these regional trends and their impact ahead of World Patient Safety Day 2025.

According to the report, the Country Manager for West Africa at Check Point Software Technologies, Kingsley Oseghale, said, “On World Patient Safety Day 2025, the focus must extend beyond clinical errors to the hidden risks of cyberattacks on healthcare.

“Healthcare in Nigeria is under increasing pressure from sophisticated cyber threats. These attacks no longer simply steal data; they disrupt surgeries, force emergency diversions, and alter patient treatment plans, putting lives at risk.”

According to the World Health Organisation, World Patient Safety Day 2025, themed “Safe care for every newborn and every child,” highlights the unique risks children face in healthcare.

The initiative calls for urgent global action to eliminate preventable harm in paediatric and newborn care by mobilising governments, healthcare providers, and communities to implement sustainable safety strategies.

In similar research, according to an April 2025 report by Itedgenews, Nigerian healthcare organisations suffered an average of 4,388 cyberattacks per week in 2025, a 47% year-on-year jump. Angola recorded 4,727 weekly attacks (+32%), Kenya 4,004 (+14%), while South Africa experienced the sharpest rise, with weekly attacks up 69% to 1,884.

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“This surge stems from rapid digitisation, mixed legacy systems, and a shortage of cyber security staff, creating a perfect storm for attackers seeking high-value patient data and disruption leverage,” Oseghale added.

AI has become both a weapon and a shield in this battle. Criminals use AI to generate realistic phishing scams, deepfake impersonations, and advanced malware, making intrusions faster and harder to detect.

The threat also extends to connected medical devices like infusion pumps and smart monitors, which expand the attack surface and heighten risks of direct patient harm. Medical identity theft adds another layer of danger, draining trust and burdening healthcare providers with costly remediation.

Experts stress that protecting patients now requires cybersecurity to be integrated into overall care quality. Key measures include regular staff training, zero-trust policies, comprehensive asset visibility, prevention-first AI security, and consolidated protection platforms.

“Cybersecurity in healthcare is no longer just about protecting data; it’s about protecting lives. As connected devices, AI-driven apps, and vast patient datasets converge, the attack surface for harm grows exponentially.

“By embedding prevention-first, AI-powered security into every layer, from device design to app governance to data protection, we can ensure that innovation in healthcare translates into safer, more resilient care for every patient,” Oseghale stated.”

As Nigeria and other African nations digitise their healthcare systems, the rise in AI-driven cyberattacks serves as a warning that more efforts are needed to safeguard the most vulnerable, newborns and children, and demands that cybersecurity be treated as an essential pillar of safe care.

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PHOTOS: Police demote officer for unauthorised VIP escort duty

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The Nigeria Police Force has demoted a corporal to the rank of constable for engaging in unauthorised VIP escort duties, in violation of directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police and President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the force disclosed that CPL Suleiman Musa (F/No: 517077), attached to 45 PMF, was found escorting a VIP without the required clearance. His action was deemed a breach of the strict enforcement measures put in place to end the indiscriminate deployment of police personnel for such assignments.

According to the statement, the disciplinary action serves as a warning to other officers and reinforces the need for full compliance with operational guidelines.

The force also noted that the incident raises questions about how the unauthorised assignment came about and whether the officer acted alone.

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PHOTOS: Father, son, three others d!e in Kano well collapse and fire incident

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Tragedy struck across three local government areas of Kano State as five people, including a 10-year-old girl, lost their lives in separate incidents involving a well collapse, a fall into a well, and a house fire.

The spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed the incidents in a statement issued on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

The first incident occurred in Badume Kanawa Village, Bichi Local Government Area, where three people d!ed while attempting to re-dig a well.

According to Abdullahi, the rope supporting one of the victims, identified as Sa’idu Gada, 65, snapped while he was working inside the well.

In a desperate attempt to save him, his son, Sani Isyaku, 20, entered the well but also became trapped. A third man, Yakubu Abdullahi, 60, followed with the hope of rescuing both, but he too was unable to make it out.

Fire Service personnel rescued the trio in an unconscious state, but they were later confirmed d3ad.

Their remains were handed over to DSP Kabiru Iliyasu of the Badume Police Division.

In another incident in Danbatta Local Government Area, a 10-year-old boy, Hassan Iliyasu Haruna, fell into a well and d!ed before help could reach him.

The third tragedy occurred in Badawa Layin Day in Nassarawa Local Government Area, where a 10-year-old girl d!ed in a house fire on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Fire Service officials said the blaze engulfed a section of a residential building, destroying two bedrooms. The girl was rescued unconscious but was later confirmed d3ad.

Speaking on the incidents, the Director of the Fire Service, Sani Anas, urged residents to avoid entering wells during emergencies, warning that such actions often result in additional casualties rather than successful rescues.

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He advised the public to immediately call emergency responders when accidents occur, stressing that trained personnel are better equipped to handle such situations safely.

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PHOTOS: Troops rescue 14 kidnapped victims in Benue forest

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Nigerian Army troops of Joint Task Force Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Watch, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims during a coordinated operation at Orokam Forest, a border area linking Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The operation was conducted on Friday at about 1:30 p.m., following credible intelligence from locals indicating the presence of a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in the forest.

Troops deployed in Udenu LGA swiftly mobilised to the location alongside vigilante personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch.

While approaching the hideout, the criminals opened fire on the troops. The joint team responded with a high volume of fire, forcing the kidnappers to flee in disarray and abandon the kidnapped victims.

14 abducted persons, who were returning from a burial ceremony over the weekend before being kidnapped, were rescued unhurt.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted from two separate communities Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA, Enugu State, and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, Benue State.

The victims were subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Udenu Division, for onward reunification with their families.

The troops expended 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the engagement and returned to base at about 7:21 p.m. without any incident.

Troops had intensified monitoring of the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

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