The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed speculations regarding the disappearance of its official account on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), which has left many Nigerians puzzled. The account, which had amassed over 2.2 million followers, was suddenly inaccessible, displaying a message that read, “The term you entered did not bring up any results. Please try again later.”
This unusual occurrence led to widespread rumors, with some media reports suggesting that the account had been hacked or hijacked by unknown individuals.
In response, the EFCC released a statement on Thursday, August 15, 2024, refuting these claims. The commission clarified that the disappearance of the account was not the result of a security breach but a temporary issue stemming from an ongoing update.
According to the EFCC, a technical glitch occurred while updating the account’s biography on the platform, leading to the account’s temporary inaccessibility. The commission assured the public that the issue has been reported to the X Support Team and that the process of restoring the account is in its final stages.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) regarding the incident. He explained that the EFCC’s ‘X’ account was undergoing an upgrade aimed at improving its functionality and global reach.
“Our X account is down temporarily due to the ongoing upgrade, and we will soon bounce back,” Oyewale said. He further emphasized that the update is necessary to serve the public better, noting that other social media platforms operated by the commission, such as Facebook and Instagram, remain fully operational.
Despite the EFCC’s reassurances, the incident has sparked concern among the public, particularly given the commission’s recent efforts to combat online fraud. In recent months, the EFCC has intensified its crackdown on internet fraudsters, often referred to as “Yahoo boys,” conducting raids on various locations, including hotels and universities.
These operations have been part of a broader campaign to curb the growing menace of cybercrime in Nigeria. However, the EFCC’s aggressive approach has not been without controversy.
Human rights organizations have criticized the agency’s tactics, particularly the use of midnight raids, which have continued despite a directive from EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to halt such operations. Critics argue that these raids infringe on the rights of individuals and create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
The disappearance of the EFCC’s ‘X’ account has also raised questions about whether the commission is facing cyber threats from internet fraudsters. In the days leading up to the account’s inaccessibility, there had been rumors of potential cyberattacks by suspected fraudsters who had threatened to retaliate against the EFCC’s operations.
These threats, reportedly made on platforms like Reddit, accused the EFCC of extortion and violating the constitutional rights of those targeted in their operations. Although the EFCC has not linked the account’s disappearance to these threats, the timing has fueled speculation.
Adding to the uncertainty, checks conducted by Meteor Nigeria on Thursday showed that the EFCC’s account was still inaccessible. The landing page, which once displayed updates and anti-corruption messages, now reads, “The term you entered did not bring up any results. Please try again later.”
While the EFCC has confirmed that its website and other social media accounts are unaffected, the sudden disappearance of its primary social media handle has left many Nigerians wondering about the true cause of the incident.
Social media platforms, especially ‘X,’ have become critical tools for public institutions like the EFCC to communicate directly with citizens. The commission’s ‘X’ account, in particular, has played a pivotal role in disseminating information about its activities, including updates on ongoing investigations, anti-corruption campaigns, and public alerts.
With over two million followers, the account has been a key channel for the EFCC to engage with the public and build support for its anti-corruption initiatives.
Social media accounts are often vulnerable to various risks, including hacking, technical issues, and policy violations. In this case, while the EFCC has assured that its account was not hacked, the situation underscores the importance of cybersecurity measures in protecting the integrity of official communication channels.
