Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed an attempted unauthorised access to its official X (formerly Twitter) account, triggering immediate technical and protective measures to secure the platform and prevent further compromise. The incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2026, and is being treated as a serious cybersecurity breach.
In a statement signed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the military high command said it had detected the attempted breach and was actively responding to the threat. "Immediate technical and protective measures are being activated to secure the account, prevent further unauthorised access and safeguard the integrity of information disseminated through the platform," the statement read.
The Army assured members of the public, the media, and other stakeholders that appropriate measures are underway to fully secure the affected account and restore exclusive administrative control. However, in the interim, the military has issued a strong warning to Nigerians: disregard any suspicious, unauthorised, misleading, or unverified content emanating from the affected account. "Such content does not represent the official position of the Nigerian Army," the statement stressed.
The Army has urged the public and the media to verify information through its other official communication platforms while efforts to resolve the incident continue. These alternative channels include Facebook accounts @hqnigerianarmy and @nigerianarmyinfo; Instagram accounts @hqnigerianarmy and @nigerianarmyinfo; X account @nigerianarmyinfo; and YouTube accounts @hqnigerianarmy and @nigerianarmyinfotv.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to information integrity, operational security, and responsible strategic communication. It also thanked the public for its vigilance and cooperation, promising that further updates would be provided as necessary.
This latest cyber threat to the Nigerian Army's digital presence comes just two weeks after a similar incident involving the Defence Headquarters. On August 15, 2026, the official X account of the Defence Headquarters (@DHQNigeria) was reportedly hacked, with unknown individuals taking control of the handle and posting cryptocurrency-related content. In response, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the cyberattack attempt and warned the public against relying on any suspicious content published from the handle.
The back-to-back cyber incidents targeting Nigeria's top military institutions raise serious concerns about the security of the nation's critical digital assets and the vulnerability of official government accounts to cybercriminals. While the Army has assured the public that the account is being secured, the incident underscores the growing sophistication of cyber threats facing government institutions in Nigeria.
As the military continues its fight against insurgents and bandits on the physical battlefield, it must now also contend with enemies in the digital domain. The Army's swift response to the attempted breach demonstrates its commitment to protecting not just the nation's territorial integrity but also its information ecosystem. For now, Nigerians are advised to stay alert, verify information from official sources, and ignore any suspicious content that may appear from the affected account until full control is restored.
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