Cyber attackers breach National Emergency Management Agency's online platform

The National Emergency Management Agency has issued a public alert regarding an unauthorized breach of its website, reportedly carried out by suspected hackers.

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This revelation was made in a statement posted by the agency on its X handle on Friday, in which it acknowledged the breach and assured the public of swift action.

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According to the statement, the agency is taking necessary technical measures to rectify the breach, secure the platform, and restore normal operations, thereby mitigating potential harm.

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NEMA has warned the public to be cautious of suspicious content or fraudulent requests for money that may appear on the compromised website, and to exercise vigilance in this regard.

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The agency's statement explicitly advised the general public to disregard any suspicious content, misleading information, unauthorized announcements, or fraudulent solicitations for money that may appear on the website or be circulated through related channels.

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NEMA has expressed regret over any inconvenience caused by the incident, and has assured the public that efforts are ongoing to resolve the issue promptly and strengthen the security of its digital platforms.

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This latest incident serves as a highlight of the ongoing cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting Nigerian government institutions, a concern that has been previously reported on.

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The Foundation for Investigative Journalism had reported on May 3 that NEMA failed to fix the hijacking of its webpages by an unknown user who publishes betting games and anti-ageing creams content, a situation that has yet to be fully addressed.

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Checks conducted by PUNCH Online on Friday revealed that users are automatically redirected to promotional betting sites and other unauthorized content upon visiting the site's homepage, a clear indication of the breach.

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Some of the redirects lead to betting platforms such as Stake, where users wager on sports with real money, and 1XBet, an online gambling company, further underscoring the severity of the issue.

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The agency did not provide details of the suspected breach or indicate whether sensitive data had been compromised, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the extent of the breach.