ARMY MOVES TO SECURE X ACCOUNT AFTER CYBERATTACK ATTEMPT

The Nigerian Army has detected an attempted unauthorised takeover of the official X account of its headquarters and has activated emergency measures to protect the platform from further intrusion.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 5pm on Saturday, August 29, 2026, and is being treated by the military authorities as a cybersecurity breach. The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele.

According to the Army, technical and protective measures were immediately activated after the attempted breach was detected. The measures are aimed at preventing further unauthorised access and safeguarding the integrity of information published through the official account.

The military said efforts were ongoing to completely secure the affected account and restore exclusive administrative control to authorised personnel.

The development has prompted the Army to issue a warning to members of the public, journalists and other stakeholders who rely on its X platform for official information.

The public was specifically advised to disregard any suspicious, misleading, unauthorised or unverified material that may appear on the affected account while the security incident is being resolved.

The Army stressed that any such content should not be interpreted as representing its official position.

The military also encouraged members of the public and media organisations to verify information through its alternative official communication channels until full control of the affected X account is restored.

The alternative platforms listed by the Army include its official Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as the @nigerianarmyinfo X account and its official YouTube channels.

The incident comes at a time when social media has become an important channel for the Nigerian Army to communicate operational updates, public statements and other information to citizens.

A successful compromise of an official military account could potentially create confusion if false statements or misleading information were published in the name of the institution.

The Army therefore emphasised the importance of information integrity and responsible strategic communication while security personnel work to resolve the incident.

Colonel Anele said the Nigerian Army remained committed to protecting the integrity of its communication platforms and maintaining operational security.

She also appreciated members of the public for their vigilance and cooperation, assuring them that further updates would be provided as developments emerge.

The Army has not disclosed the identity of those behind the attempted intrusion or whether any sensitive information was accessed during the incident.

For now, the military's priority is to regain and maintain full administrative control of the affected account while preventing further unauthorised activity.