The official X account of Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ), @DHQNigeria, has reportedly been hacked, with unknown individuals taking control of the account and posting cryptocurrency-related content.
The account, which has about 982,000 followers, is regularly used by the military to publish official statements, operational updates and security information.
However, the handle was observed posting content relating to cryptocurrency and protocol emissions, raising concerns that unauthorised individuals may have gained access to the account.
The reported breach has sparked reactions on social media, with users calling on the military to urgently recover the account and secure its official communications platform.
Former presidential media aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, urged the authorities to act swiftly.
“@DHQNigeria has been hacked for hours now. The Defense Intelligence Agency needs to act swiftly to secure the account and restore control,” Ahmad said.
Cybersecurity commentator Maryam Shuiabu Aliyu also warned that the incident could have implications beyond social media.
She described a compromised government account as a potential trust and national security concern, particularly because such platforms are used to communicate sensitive information to the public.
As of the time of filing this report, the Defence Headquarters and Defence Intelligence Agency had not publicly commented on the reported breach or disclosed measures being taken to regain control of the account.
The development comes amid growing concerns over cyberattacks targeting Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
In May, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission warned of a sustained wave of Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks affecting digital infrastructure across the country. The commission said Nigeria was recording more than 4,000 cyberattacks weekly, highlighting the need for stronger cybersecurity and data protection measures.
The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) has also warned individuals and organisations about the growing threat of DDoS attacks, urging them to strengthen their cybersecurity systems.
The reported compromise of the DHQ account has therefore renewed concerns about the vulnerability of official government platforms and the need for stronger protection of Nigeria’s digital communication channels.
