The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that its official X account was compromised in an attempted unauthorised access, warning members of the public to disregard suspicious or misleading messages that may be posted from the account.
The DHQ said it had activated technical measures to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access.
The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba.
The military headquarters said the incident was being treated as a cybersecurity matter and that efforts were ongoing to regain full control of the account.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, the media and all stakeholders that it has detected an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account,” the statement said.
“The incident is currently being treated as a cybersecurity matter and appropriate technical measures have been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access.”
Uba said the DHQ was working to fully restore control of the account, adding that members of the public should exercise caution during the period.
He warned Nigerians against relying on information posted from the affected account if such messages appeared suspicious, unauthorised or misleading.
“The Defence Headquarters assures the public that efforts are ongoing to fully restore control of the official account. Consequently, members of the public are advised to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that may be posted from the account during this period,” he said.
The warning is significant because the Defence Headquarters uses its official social media platforms to provide information on military operations, security developments, public statements and other activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Any unauthorised post from an official military account could therefore cause confusion, particularly where it relates to security operations, troop movements, military casualties or other sensitive national security matters.
The DHQ said it remained committed to maintaining high standards of information security and ensuring that Nigerians continued to receive accurate and credible information about the activities of the military.
“We appreciate the understanding and vigilance of the public and will provide further updates as necessary,” Uba said.
To ensure that communication with the public continued without interruption, the Defence Headquarters urged Nigerians to rely on its verified accounts on other social media platforms.
The military directed members of the public to its verified Facebook account, “Defence Headquarters Nigeria”, Instagram account, @defenceheadquarters, and its WhatsApp Channel, Defence Headquarters Nigeria.
The development comes amid growing concerns over cybersecurity threats facing organisations, governments and institutions around the world.
As more public institutions depend on social media to communicate directly with citizens, their digital accounts have become important channels for the release of official information. This has also made such accounts potential targets for unauthorised access, hacking and impersonation.
For the military, the risks are particularly serious because information released in its name may be treated as official even when it is not.
A compromised account can be used to spread false information, create public panic, impersonate officials or circulate messages that could affect ongoing security operations.
The DHQ’s decision to alert the public is therefore aimed at preventing such information from being mistaken for genuine military communication.
The incident also highlights the importance of cybersecurity in the management of official government communication platforms.
Cybersecurity involves measures taken to protect computer systems, online accounts, networks and data from unauthorised access or attacks. Government agencies and other organisations increasingly rely on such measures to protect their digital platforms.
In Nigeria, social media has become an important part of government communication, with ministries, departments and agencies using platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to share announcements and respond to public concerns.
The Defence Headquarters has also used its platforms to provide regular updates on the activities of the Armed Forces, particularly military operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups.
The military therefore needs to ensure that members of the public can easily distinguish between genuine information and false messages posted by unauthorised persons.
The DHQ did not disclose who was responsible for the attempted compromise, how the unauthorised access was detected or whether any sensitive information was obtained.
It also did not say whether any suspicious message had already been posted from the account.
Instead, the military focused on warning Nigerians to disregard questionable content and wait for information from its other verified platforms while efforts to secure the X account continued.
The incident is also a reminder to members of the public to verify information before sharing messages attributed to government institutions, particularly during periods of heightened security concerns.
The public was advised to check the source of military-related information and avoid spreading unverified reports that could cause unnecessary fear or confusion.
The DHQ assured Nigerians that it was taking steps to protect its official account and restore normal control.
It also indicated that further updates would be provided as necessary as efforts to resolve the cybersecurity incident continued.
Until the account is fully secured, the Defence Headquarters urged Nigerians, journalists and other stakeholders to rely on its verified Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms for official information.
The military said its priority remained the protection of its information systems and the provision of accurate, timely and credible information to the Nigerian public.
The incident has consequently placed renewed attention on the need for stronger protection of official digital platforms, especially those belonging to security agencies whose statements can have a direct impact on public confidence and national security.