The Nigerian Army has raised the alarm over an attempted unauthorised takeover of its official X account, warning Nigerians and the media to be cautious of information posted on the platform until the security incident is resolved.
The Army said the incident occurred at about 5pm on Saturday, August 29, 2026, and is being treated as a cybersecurity breach. Authorities said immediate technical and protective measures were activated to prevent further unauthorised access and protect the integrity of information shared through the account.
In a statement signed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the military assured the public that efforts were ongoing to regain exclusive administrative control of the affected account.
The Army also advised users not to rely on suspicious, misleading or unverified posts that may appear on the platform during the incident.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to information integrity, operational security and responsible strategic communication,” the statement said.
The military urged members of the public and journalists to verify information through its alternative official communication channels while the situation is being addressed. These include its verified Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other X accounts.
The incident is significant because social media has become an important communication tool for security agencies. A compromised military account could potentially be used to circulate false information or impersonate the Army, creating confusion among members of the public.
The latest alert also comes shortly after the Defence Headquarters reported a separate cyber incident involving its official X account earlier in August. The DHQ had similarly advised Nigerians to disregard suspicious content and rely on alternative official channels for verified information.
The Army has not disclosed the identity of those behind the latest attempted breach or whether any sensitive information was accessed.
As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the incident highlights the growing need for government institutions, particularly security agencies, to strengthen the protection of their digital platforms and public communication channels.
