EFCC denies hacking claims, attributes X account downtime to technical glitch

EFCC denies hacking claims, attributes X account downtime to technical glitch

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified the recent unavailability of its official X account, formerly known as Twitter, denying reports that it was hacked. The anti-graft agency explained that the account’s inaccessibility was due to a technical glitch during an update process.

The EFCC’s official X account, which boasts over two million followers, has been inaccessible for several days, sparking rumours of a potential cyberattack. The landing page for the account displayed a message stating, “The term you entered did not bring up any results. Please try again later,” leading to widespread speculation about the account’s status.

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EFCC Spokesperson Addresses Concerns

In response to these concerns, Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the EFCC, addressed the issue, emphasising that the account was not compromised. “Our X account is down temporarily due to ongoing upgrades, and we will soon bounce back,” Oyewale stated. “You know, when there is an upgrade in a system, it may be temporarily down and inaccessible. We are doing the upgrade to serve the public better.”

The EFCC further explained in a formal statement that the technical glitch occurred while attempting to update specific information on the account’s biography.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to some unsubstantiated claims in a section of the media suggesting that the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Commission has been hacked and hijacked by unknown individuals,” the statement read. “The Commission wishes to state that these claims are false and misleading categorically.”

The statement continued, “Contrary to such unfounded claims, the Commission’s official X account has not been compromised. A technical glitch occurred while attempting to update certain information on the Commission’s biography on the app. This issue was promptly reported to the X Support Team, and restoring the account is now in its final stages.”

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EFCC’s X Account in Final Stages of Restoration

Oyewale reassured the public that the EFCC’s other social media channels, including its Facebook and Instagram profiles and official website, remain fully operational. He also mentioned that the EFCC is working diligently with the X Support Team to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to the account as soon as possible.

The EFCC’s statement sought to quell concerns and misinformation about the nature of the account’s downtime, reaffirming that the issue is purely technical and unrelated to any external interference.

As the commission nears resolving this glitch, stakeholders and the public are encouraged to continue following the EFCC’s other verified communication channels for updates and official information.