Over N1 billion in fraudulent transactions bypassed security systems across West Africa in the first half of 2026, exposing weaknesses in the region's digital financial infrastructure. Cybersecurity firm Esentry disclosed this in its H1 2026 threat landscape report, stating that three major fraud incidents were detected only through routine audits, customer complaints, and settlement warnings. The report noted that the attacks did not trigger conventional security alerts because criminals exploited legitimate credentials, active sessions, and trusted digital environments rather than software vulnerabilities. Esentry's chief business officer, Gbolabo Awelewa, said attackers are increasingly exploiting trust rather than vulnerabilities, using legitimate credentials, familiar software platforms, and AI-enabled workflows to evade detection.
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