Nigerian military raises alarm over attempt to hack its X account

The Nigerian military has alerted the public about an attempted unauthorized breach of its official X account, according to a statement from the Defence Headquarters. Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, revealed the incident during a Saturday press briefing. Uba emphasized that the situation was being handled as a cybersecurity concern, with necessary technical measures put in place to safeguard the account and deter future unauthorized access.

He urged the general public, media, and other stakeholders to ignore any dubious, unauthorized, or misleading material that might be published from the account while it is under restoration. The military authorities expressed their continued dedication to upholding the highest standards of information security and emphasized the importance of providing accurate, timely, and credible information about the activities and operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The Directorate of Defence Information appealed for public vigilance and suggested that Nigerians rely on the military’s verified communication channels on other platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and the WhatsApp Channel, while efforts to secure the X account are ongoing. This incident highlights the growing reliance of the Armed Forces on digital platforms for disseminating official information on military operations, security developments, and other activities.

The Defence Headquarters pledged to provide further updates as required and expressed appreciation for the public’s understanding and vigilance in this matter.