Eleven suspected terrorists, including senior members of various extremist groups, have been arrested in Nigeria in an international security operation coordinated by INTERPOL and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation.

The operation, codenamed Operation Catalyst, was aimed at dismantling terrorism financing networks and other transnational crimes across Africa. Conducted between July and September 2025, the two-month exercise was jointly executed in six countries — Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

According to a statement released by INTERPOL and obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, the operation resulted in 83 arrests and the identification of 160 persons of interest linked to terrorism financing, money laundering, cyber-enabled fraud, and the illicit use of virtual assets.

The statement revealed that the 11 suspects arrested in Nigeria are believed to be high-level operatives with links to multiple terrorist groups operating within the country and the wider Sahel region.

“In Nigeria, the operation led to the arrest of 11 suspected terrorists, including high-level members of several terrorist groups,” INTERPOL said.

It added that investigators also uncovered a cryptocurrency-based Ponzi scheme masquerading as a legitimate online trading platform, which defrauded victims across at least 17 countries — including Cameroon, Kenya, and Nigeria — of more than $562m.

“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.

As part of Operation Catalyst, INTERPOL also issued a Red Notice for a suspect believed to be behind another sophisticated cryptocurrency scam that defrauded victims of approximately $5m, redirecting funds through multiple addresses and centralized exchanges to obscure the money trail.

INTERPOL Secretary General, Valdecy Urquiza, said the operation demonstrated the strength of international collaboration against terrorism financing.

“Operation Catalyst shows the power of coordinated global law enforcement action in dismantling the complex web of terrorism financing,” he said.

Similarly, AFRIPOL’s Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, commended the success of the joint effort, noting that it underscores Africa’s growing ability to respond collectively to evolving transnational threats.

“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 PUNCH, but headline rejigged)