The official X account of the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ), @DHQNigeria, has reportedly been hacked, with unknown individuals taking control of the handle and posting cryptocurrency-related content.
Politics Nigeria learnt that account, which has about 982,000 followers, is primarily used by the military to disseminate official statements, operational updates and security information.
However, the handle was observed posting content relating to crypto and protocol emissions, raising concerns that scammers or other unauthorised actors may have gained access to the account.
The development has triggered reactions on social media, with users expressing concern over the security implications of the breach and calling for swift action by the authorities.
Former presidential media aide to late ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad urged the military to immediately recover the account.
“@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, described the incident as a matter that goes beyond social media, warning that a compromised government account could undermine public confidence and raise national security concerns.
“A hacked government account isn’t just a social media problem; it’s a trust and national security concern,” Aliyu said.
She added that @DHQNigeria had reportedly been compromised for hours and questioned how quickly authorities should respond when an official government account is breached.
Many other X users also reacted to the breach.
One user, Ghata 01, linked the incident to broader concerns about the security of Nigeria’s sensitive government communications, saying: “That means the hackers can hijack the Presidential villa, no wonder Mallam el-Rufa’i started testing the microphone by tapping NSA phone conversations.”
Another user, Martins, said the incident exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s digital security infrastructure.
“That is to show you how unsafe we are in this country,” he wrote.
A different user, identified as S A Y, however, questioned whether publicly discussing the breach before the account was recovered could create additional security concerns.
“Is it proper to report such sensitive matter before the account is regained?” the user asked.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence Agency had not, as of the time of filing this report, commented on the hacking or disclosed measures being taken to regain control of the account.
The development comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over Nigeria’s exposure to cyberattacks targeting critical digital infrastructure.
In May, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) warned of a sustained and intensifying wave of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks disrupting digital infrastructure across the country.
The commission said Nigeria was recording more than 4,000 cyberattacks weekly, underscoring the need for stronger data protection measures, local data storage and stricter compliance with cybersecurity regulations.
Through the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), the Federal Government had also alerted individuals and organisations to the growing threat posed by DDoS attacks, urging them to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
The advisory noted that threat actors were increasingly using sophisticated techniques, including botnets, amplification methods and the exploitation of known vulnerabilities, to overwhelm digital systems and make essential online services inaccessible.
According to ngCERT, both government and private-sector platforms remain vulnerable as cybercriminals continue to refine their methods.
