The Nigerian Army has revealed that an attempted cyberattack on its official X account occurred on Saturday, leading to the implementation of safeguards against unauthorised access.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, Col Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, verified the occurrence.
Anele stated that the army was handling the event as a cybersecurity problem and that the suspected breach happened around 5 p.m.
According to her, technical and security steps were put in place right away to safeguard the account and stop future efforts to hack it.
“The Nigerian Army assures members of the public, the media and other stakeholders that appropriate measures are underway to fully secure the affected account,” she said.
As a result, Anele cautioned the public and media to ignore any questionable, deceptive, unapproved, or unconfirmed content posted via the compromised account.
She emphasised that such content should not be taken as the Nigerian Army’s official stance.
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While attempts to fix the situation are ongoing, the Army spokesperson advised the public and media outlets to rely on the military’s other verified communication channels for official information.
She reiterated the Army’s dedication to upholding operational security, information integrity, and responsible strategic communication.
Anele also thanked members of the public for their vigilance, understanding and cooperation, assuring them that additional information would be released when necessary.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for intensified military coordination to secure the release of 52 children and other Nigerians reportedly held by terrorists in Borno State, even as it acknowledged recent counter-terrorism gains by the Nigerian Army.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Monday, HURIWA said the reported repulsion of an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on the Forward Operating Base in Mandaragirau, Biu Local Government Area, demonstrated the importance of sustained military pressure on terrorist groups.
The association said troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion, operating under Operation Hadin Kai, successfully defended the base, reportedly neutralising several terrorists and recovering weapons and military equipment.
However, HURIWA said battlefield successes should ultimately be judged by their impact on civilian safety, particularly the ability of security agencies to rescue victims of terrorism and restore security to affected communities.
The group urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Waidi Shaibu, to strengthen coordination with the Chief of Defence Staff, other service chiefs and intelligence agencies to locate and rescue the 52 children and other victims who have reportedly spent about 90 days in captivity.
HURIWA described the prolonged captivity as both a humanitarian and national security concern. It noted reports that some affected families had allegedly resorted to selling houses and other property in anticipation of ransom demands.
