The official websites of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday night, came under cyber attack by Anonymous, a group of foreign Internet activists protesting police brutality in the country.
The group, prominent for hacking repressive government’s website, earlier announced its decision to attack federal government agencies’ websites in solidarity with the protesters clamouring for the reformation of the Nigerian police.
The group of anonymous hackers has carried out similar coordinated attacks in the United States, Israel, Tunisia, Uganda and some other countries. Its motto is simply “we are anonymous.”
The official website of the Nigeria Police Force and National Broadcasting Commission’s Twitter handle were infiltrated on Thursday.
On Friday night, the hackers disclosed the attack on CBN website, saying it is a cyber campaign against the Nigerian government.
“#Nigeria: International hackers & Anonymous continue the cyber campaign against the government to call out corruption, demand police reform, and show solidarity with brave protestors. #OpNigeria #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality #ReformTheNigerianPolice”
Meanwhile, the apex bank has denied the attack stating that its website is secure.
“We wish to assure the Nigerian public and indeed all our other stakeholders that the CBN website is adequately protected and that there is no cause for alarm,” the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi noted via an official statement.
