Elon Musk said X was hit by a major cyberattack on Monday as outages plagued users of the platform once known as Twitter.
“There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against X,” Musk said in a post on the platform.
Musk blamed a cyberattack, providing no evidence, for crashing the site last year when an interview with Donald Trump was to be streamed.
In his post Monday, Musk included an X post from a DogeDesigner account that some on Reddit speculated could be a puppet of the tycoon himself.
The post noted protests against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that Trump entrusted to Musk, along with Tesla shops being vandalized, suggesting a cyberattack could signal another burst of animosity towards Musk.
Musk is chief or Tesla, his electric car company.
“It would take a lot of (money) to do an attack of this magnitude,” read a post in the exchange by the account of Jammies
Musk also maintained such an attack would take tremendous resources, speculating it was the work of a country or large coordinated group.
Outages on the X social media platform left tens of thousands of users unable to access the site, according to monitors.
Reports of problems with X started in the early hours of Monday, with users in Asia, Europe, and North America saying they could not access the platform, according to the Downdetector tracking site.
At the peak, more than 40,000 people reported outages, the site said.
The bulk of the reports were from people trying to use X on smartphones, but people on web browsers also reported the service down.
“Twitter keeps breaking?” asked a post by @Lalaslovely in the Downdetector chat section.
After Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion in late 2022, the majority of employees left or were fired, raising concerns about whether staffing was in place to keep the platform safe and stable
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye SAN, has disclosed that the commission is Investigating Military spending, including alleged diversion of N4 billion by an ex- military chief.
He said there are also cases of job racketeering in the security sector.
He made the revelation in a speech at the national policy dialogue on corruption and insecurity in Nigeria, held on Friday at the ICPC Auditorium, Abuja.
He said: “A clinical diagnosis of the insecurity menace in the country reveals that to effectively combat insecurity, we require the collaborative efforts of Security Agencies (the military, intelligence, Police, Customs, Prisons, others), as well as Law Enforcement and Anti-Corruption Agencies.”
He explained that ICPC’s findings on the subject matter show that Public sector corruption, directly and indirectly, enables insecurity, and can sometimes complement it.
According to him, “Cases of job racketeering abound in the security sector, many of which are under investigation by the ICPC. There are also ongoing investigations into military contracts spending. Recently, ICPC arrested a military contractor that received over a period of less than ten years cumulative sum of about N6 billion from the Nigerian Army in suspicious circumstances and in violation of extant legislation. The Commission’s recovery of huge cash sums in local and foreign currencies, luxury cars, customized mobile phones, designer watches including three Rolexes as well as property documents from the premises of the contractor underscore the corruption that often attend military procurement.”
He said some former military and security personnel are being investigated by ICPC and a sister agency for embezzlement of funds allocated to security.
“For example, a former head of one of the arms of the military in the twilight of his tenure deposited the sum of N4 billion from the military budget into the accounts of two companies where he is the beneficial owner and sole signatory. The proceeds were used to purchase properties in Abuja in the names of cronies and proxies. Some of the properties paid for by his service were also fraudulently converted to his use. ICPC’s prosecution of this high ranking officer to recover all the implicated assets was strangely and perversely frustrated by a recently retired High Court judge who decided to forfeit some of the assets to FGN and the rest left to the suspect. While the Commission has filed notice of appeal, this strange development aggravates an already bad situation and escalates insecurity and impunity.
“Another case under investigation is theft of part of special intervention fund approved for security operations by some civil servants in the line ministry who transferred about N1 billion to 4 shell companies. A special investigative team under the leadership of NSA and ICPC recovered some of the diverted assets including state of the art buildings located in Abuja and over N220 million cash. Investigation in this matter is still ongoing.”
He said funds to retool and reposition the police to a world class institution is also threatened by corruption.
He added that the newly established police special intervention framework designed to eliminate underfunding of the police, the Police Trust Fund, is already under ICPC investigation.
He said it is being investigated for abuse, fund diversion, questionable welfare packaging that is not for the police who are the beneficiaries of the fund and sundry corrupt practices.
“One may safely conclude that other security agencies are dogged by similar practices albeit to varying degrees.
“In the past 7 years the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the 9th National Assembly have ensured significantly increased funding for the security sector. Part of our interrogation today is why has this proactive effort not translated into commensurate effectiveness in the war against insurgency and insecurity and despite the gallant and sacrificial effort of our soldiers, policemen and other security operatives working daily to secure Nigerians. Experts have attributed the aggravation of insecurity partially to misapplication and misappropriation of funds in the defence sector procurement practices. Investigations by anti corruption agencies will seem to bear this out. What is worse is that soldiers are often reported in social media complaining of being poorly-equipped and poorly motivated.
“These challenges can be partly traced to the revelation by the Centre for Democracy and Development, (CDD) that about $15billion has been squandered through fraudulent arms procurement deals in the last 20 years in the country,” he said.
He further highlighted that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity challenges and the resulting impact on the Nigerian state, her economy and her image, continue to be cause of grave concern to Nigerians.
“Nigeria’s insecurity crisis is real and consolidating. A recent Business Day publication of May 20, 2022, showed that Nigeria’s Military spending grew by 56% in one year – from USD2.4Bn in 2020 to USD4.5Bn in 2021. If those figures are correct, it indicates that strengthening the security services, especially the military, to beef up security against internal threats has been a matter of very high national priority under this government,” he said.
The Nigeria Police on Friday dismissed an Inspector, Richard Gele, who publicly justified extortion to members of the public while at his duty post.
Gele, attached to the Police Mobile Force 77 Squadron in Okene, Kogi State was captured by a traveller in a viral video, dignifying extortion.
The fearless inspector told the travellers that extortion was a legal ground for survival — Referring to his duty post, and an act encouraged by his superiors.
“If I want to collect money, I will collect good money, I dont take ‘change’. I also don’t hide it. Even the IGP is aware, and my former superior told me that if I should take money, I should take the one he would get a cut.
“So, if such an act gets me into trouble, he (former superior) will defend me,” Gele spoke confidently to the travellers in pidgin.
Reacting to the event that occurred on Monday, the Force Spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Gele was found guilty of the charges levelled against him after he was subjected to an internal disciplinary mechanism.
In line with extant laws governing the conduct of police personnel, Adejobi noted that the Inspector, with AP/No. 188547, “ceases to be a member of the Nigeria Police Force with immediate effect”.
The Inspector, from Benue State, was enlisted into the Force in September 2000 and, until his dismissal, was attached to Police Mobile Force 77 Squadron, Okene, Kogi State and deployed to the Itobe – Anyigba Road, for the safety of road users and commuters, along the route, where the incident occurred.
Adejobi said in a statement on Friday, “The officer has been de-kitted and handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State, for further necessary action.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, while expressing the staunch commitment of his administration at bequeathing policing standards in tandem with international best practices to the nation, warned all personnel to eschew extortion, unprofessionalism, official corruption and other inappropriate acts.
“The IGP urged them to display exemplary courage and patriotism in the discharge of their duties.”
President Muhamadu Buhari is currently meeting with Service chiefs and heads of security agencies over the worsening insecurity in the country.
Naija News reports that the National Security Council Meeting is taking place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting is being attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao.
Also in attendance are the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman; the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
Others at the meeting are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).
AIG Assures Hitch Free Sallah Celebrations As NAOSRE President Scores Military Low On Security
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, AIG Adeleke Adeyinka Bode, has charged Commissioners of Police in-charge of the two States to be proactive in the discharge of their duties in the protection of life and property during and after the 2022 Eid-el- Kabir celebrations
The instruction is contained in a statement signed by SP Hauwa Idris-Adamu, Zone 2 Police Public Relations Officer which was made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE.
The statement added that the Zone 2 AIG has also deployed officers and men of Anti-Cultism Section (ACS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS),Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), Quick Intervention Unit (QIU), Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD),Counter Terrorists Unit (CTU),Police Mobile Force (PMF),Special Protection Unit (SPU),State/Divisional Motor Traffic Department (MTD) including Safer Highway Operatives and all patrol and guard officers to beef up security around worship centres, market places, business plazas, highways, relaxation centres, amusement parks, motor parks, shopping malls, recreation centres, remote and rural areas to ensure free flow of traffic as well as safer environment for the celebrations.
In his goodwill message, the president, National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, Comrade Femi Oyewale rejoiced with Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-al-Adha celebrations, urging Nigerians to continue on the path of spirituality and peaceful co-existence.
He explained that the commitment of NAOSRE members at ensuring cordiality between security agencies and citizens, using their various blogs to publicize the activities of security operatives has be encouraging.
He therefore urged excos and members of the frontline security media association to imbibe the lessons of the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim and work for the unity, peace and security of Nigeria.
“This Islamic festival is a symbolic reminder to us that there will always be great rewards when we have abiding faith and patience in our beloved country Nigeria.
“Therefore, we must always strive to imbibe the patience and perseverance of Prophet Ibrahim, who held on tenaciously to his faith in Allah despite difficulties,” the NAOSRE President advised.
Oyewale however, frowns at the recurring phenomenon of insecurity that threatens and undeservingly plagues Nigeria into disquiet.
He noted that the issue of insecurity in Nigeria has become something of grave concern to all well-meaning citizens most of who continue to wonder how the country arrived at such a dastardly situation where no one is safe.
He expressed concerns that rather than abate, the problem is escalating and now totally out of control despite NAOSRE’s patriotic efforts at shoring citizens’ confidence in security operatives.
Oyewale wondered about the continued loss of confidence in Nigeria by investors who are denied exercising the constitutional privileges of going about their lawful business pursuits on daily basis.
“Across the 36 States in Nigeria, armed robbery, kidnapping, domestic crime, extrajudicial killings, herder-farmer conflicts, ritual killings and banditry have supported the growing level of insecurity and consequently retarded the country’s economic growth in the long and short terms overview.
“For the avoidance of doubt, about 1,743 Nigerians have been killed in Q1 of 2022 with Niger and Zamfara States topping the list of victims.
“Besides, as of June 1, 2022, the records of NAOSRE’s Intelligent and Research Unit, IRU, indicate that more than 35,000 human beings, residing in Nigeria have been killed since 2009 when Boko Haram launched its insurgency aimed at overthrowing Nigeria’s secular government and establishing an Islamic state.
“Yet, here is a country with about 223,000 active personnel in its Armed Forces. In addition to this statistics is the annual Global Firepower, GFP 2022 reports which ranks Nigeria, in its Power Index {PwrIndx} as 35 out of the 142 countries. The reports rated Nigeria on its 0.5745 scores which is considered good,” Oyewale stated.
But the NAOSRE President noted that in the face of all this, the country is structurally enmeshed in both vertical and horizontal crises of insecurity saying that the sheer audacity of untrained bandits to always overrun trained military personnel is worrisome.
Specifically, Oyewale emphasized that the unchallenged attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria on July 5, in which about 879 inmates reportedly escaped is the final statement that military operatives’ intervention and rescue duties have nosedived and Nigeria’s security system is all-time low.
“It makes mockery of military operatives’ celebrated gallantry at combating insurgency. This development has jeopardized the country’s economy even with approved 2022 budgetary spending of a whopping N1.52 billion on security operations,” Oyewale lamented.
ISSAN Forum: Experts Raises Alarm Over Brain Drain Of Digital Skills In Africa
Experts have raised concerns over the growing shortage of general digital skills occasioned by the brain drain in Africa, stating that such development would further lead to rise in cyber-attacks and crimes with catastrophic consequences for businesses, governments, and citizens. This was the consensus of panelists that facilitated at the April edition of The Information Security Society of Africa – Nigeria (ISSAN) monthly meeting themed: ‘Addressing the Cybersecurity Skills Quagmire’. They opined that African countries must as a matter of urgency start Intentional development of digital skills at all levels, smart technology support, collaboration with the Diaspora and strategic supply of digital skills to Africa. Key speakers included President, ISSAN, Dr. David Isiavwe; Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Digital Jewels, Mrs. Doyin Odunfa; Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Stanbic IBTC, Abumere Igboa; CISO, Heritage Bank, Eduje Ighoakpo; CISO, First Bank, Harrison Nnaji; CISO, Standard Chartered Bank, Oghenefovie Oyawari and Tokunbo Taiwo, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Digital Jewels amongst several other speakers.
According to Mrs. Odunfa, the shortage of general digital skills at all levels is expected to become more critical as economies grows, noting that supply of digitally skilled labour must also increase to meet anticipated labour market needs. She observed that highly skilled African professionals have been emigrating African countries to pursue lucrative cultural and socio-economic opportunities on other continents leading to brain drain and skills gap on the continent. Whilst proffering solutions, she went further to recommend intentional development of digital skills at all levels, smart technology support, collaboration with the Diaspora and strategic supply to Africa and Western economies. “These young Africans are looking for higher-paying jobs outside Africa to escape socio-economic limitations such as poverty, limited infrastructure, and rudimentary jobs. They look for enabling environments in developed countries that provide rewarding businesses and obtain lucrative jobs, matching skilled individuals’ aspirations and expected socio-economic recompense. Many highly talented African students that obtain opportunities and scholarships of training abroad do not return home after completing studies.”
In his welcome address, President, ISSAN, Dr. David Isiavwe, said the brain drain in Africa as well as the digital skills shortage currently being experienced around the world calls for concern. According to him, “The cyberthreat landscape is still evolving. Cybersecurity space keeps getting very busy by the day. We have seen how daring cybercriminals can be, targeting both national assets and that of highly reputable firms. Even individuals are not left out. Consequently, it becomes imperative that organizations never relent in upholding and reinforcing information security best practices.”
The Information Security Society of Africa – Nigeria (ISSAN) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection of Nigeria’s cyberspace. They are significantly involved in ensuring the security of Banking Systems and applications, ATMs, e-government systems, and the entire cyberspace in Nigeria. ISSAN also seek to achieve its objectives through awareness heightening measures including the promotion of appropriate legislation and best practices. Membership cuts across both public and private sectors of the economy including Banks, Telecommunications Operators, Government parastatals, switching companies, IT and IT Security Consultancies, Legal Practitioners with a keen interest in cyber-related matters, Regulators.
ISSAN, which has existed for over 10 years in Nigeria, has proven to be a veritable platform for collaboration and exchange of ideas by members of the Banking and e-commerce public especially regarding safekeeping of PINS, controls over passwords, access to the internet as well as steps organizations should take to always keep their systems healthy and safe. ISSAN, therefore, performs a critical role in ensuring that Information Security professionals find their voice on matters of Information Security and that all stakeholders are duly informed of the steps to take to contribute their little quota towards ensuring a safe society for us all.
Nigeria Police Force And Actors Guild Partner To Promote Value
In a bid to standardize the portrayal of the Nigeria Police Force in movies and other creative content produced by the Nigeria movie and entertainment industry, the Police has partnered with the leadership of the Nigeria Guild of Actors, and other relevant associations in the Nigeria entertainment industry.
This was made known on Sunday in a statement signed by CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, acting Force Public Relations Officer and made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE.
According to the statement, the NPF met with the leadership of the guild of actors recently at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to critically deliberate on topical issues of national security viz-a-viz intelligence gathering and community partnership.
The meeting also discussed areas of possible collaboration to shape positive thoughts and narratives, portray good values, and resuscitate Nigerian cultures through movies, skits, creative content, which would impress positively on the Nigerian public, add value to our system, provide police officers with modern innovations to actively carry out policing duties and on-screen role models who would influence their lives and career, and consequently improve security mechanisms in Nigeria.
The President of the Guild of Actors, Ejezie Emeka Rollas, who was at the meeting in the company of his Senior Special Adviser on Military, Police, and other security agencies, Mr. Steve Eboh, appreciated the current leadership, especially the Inspector-General, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, for the opportunity to collaborate and promote good and meaningful ideals after twenty-four years of the Guild’s existence.
The NPF authority reiterated the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to brainstorm alongside the guild in harnessing the potentials within Nollywood to achieve seamless synergy aimed at building a change in narratives with regards to police portrayals in movies, skits, etc and other ideological perspectives that can improve internal security. The NPF equally assured that it has set up mechanisms to ensure prompt approvals of requests for uniforms, kits, and other police props in movie productions to stimulate required and seamless collaboration.
Why We Are Supporting Security Agencies – Alhaji Ogunbiyi
Alhaji Waheed Usman Ogunbiyi, Chairman Oguns Investment Ltd, has said the reasons he continuously extends supports to security agencies is to ensure safe environment for social and economic activities to strive.
The frontline real estate investor stated this Friday afternoon when he played host to a team of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE which honoured him with NAOSRE Security Excellence Award.
Acknowledging the honour, an obviously elated Alhaji Ogunbiyi thanked NAOSRE for recognizing him, saying he never knew that an association as credible as NAOSRE had kept a close observation on his supportive efforts to security agencies.
“I really appreciate NAOSRE for nominating me. We are sufficiently encouraged by this honour. So we will continue to do more to support our security agencies so that our community can be safe.
“We have been doing our best but we never knew that association like yours has been monitoring us.
“We are happy with your association and we expect others to emulate your good work,” Ogunbiyi stated.
Earlier, the Head, Research and Intelligent Unit, RIU, in the NAOSRE PR Department, Lateef Owodunni, explained in details the rationale behind the award which he stated emanated from Alhaji Ogunbiyi’s noticeable supports to the Nigeria Police Force and other para military agencies for effective security service delivery within and outside Lagos State.
Owodunni added that the Comrade Femi Oyewale led media union will continuously recognize individuals and institutions that are supporting security agencies in line with the administrative focus of NAOSRE.
The NAOSRE team included National General Secretary, Osho Oluwatosin, National Registrar, Gbenga Isaac Shaba, Director of Process & Planning {NAOSRE President Office} Aina Iyabo Bose and Idumonza Isidahomhen, Public Relations Officer.
N34b Security Vote: Oyo State Questioned on Increase on Insecurity
As it is in many other States in Nigeria, tales of insecurity have trailed the administration of Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, a corporate Czar, who made laudable marks in the oil and gas sector before venturing into politics.
Pre 2019, governor Makinde had solicited for votes, promising the people of Oyo State through a concise manifesto, “ Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development, 2019-2023” with Economy (through agribusiness), Education, Healthcare and Security as priority areas.
However, just after assuming office, a segment of the numerous crises that upturned the innocence of Igangan to the mayhem at Iwo Road and the assassination of an Ibadan On-Air Personality, showed clearly about the renewed upsurge in crime in the 46 years old State.
But an investigation by the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE revealed that the governor has taken measures to enhance safety in the State.
Among other things, the governor, within one year in office, was said to have procured and distributed 100 Rio Kia motor vehicles fully equipped with modern security communication gadgets; operationalised 615 Citizens’ Emergency toll-free lines, streetlights under the Light-up Oyo Phase 1, about 49 JAC Pickup Vans for the new Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron (No. 72 PMF), refurbished 8 Toyota Hilux Pickup Vans and 1 Utility Lorry for the security outfits, enactment of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (‘AMOTEKUN’) Bill 2019 which was signed into law March 10, 2020.
In May 2021, by which time the governor was two years old in office, he had operationalised the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun in Oyo State in November 2020 and recruited and trained 1,500 Amotekun Corps members.
He also expanded and upgraded the Security Control Room and City, provided CCTV cameras in strategic locations in the state and provided more communication equipment for the security agencies as well as more brand new operational vehicles for the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, ‘Operation Burst’ and Amotekun.
However, further investigations indicate that though governor Makinde may have purchased security equipment, the totality of what he has expended in security operations is a far cry from the sum total of his security votes in the past two and half years, raising the questions about his genuine concerns for the safety of life and property in Oyo State.
Unconfirmed report showed that while his predecessor, late governor Abiola Ajimobi ensured safety of life and property with a monthly security vote of N250 million, Seyi Makinde, upon assumption of office, increased the monthly vote to N1 billion, translating to about N34 billion in his 34-month old in office.
Insiders averred that governor Makinde is not truly concerned about the security of people in Oyo State.
Those who spoke to NAOSRE stressed that the young governor is more interested in his second tenure, a development that may ignited the passion to save for elections and careless about the series of unrest, kidnapping, attacks on citizens and killing in major towns and cities in the state due to poor security network in the State especially in Oke Ogun and Ibarapa zones.
However, there have been arguments about the over blown security situation in Oyo State.
This argument is held mostly by the governor’s loyalists who maintain, at every available opportunity, that governor Makinde is a victim of political cross fire, essentially from the camp of opposition.
Though this might sound valid, Oyo State government’s penchant for withholding valid information from journalists rubbishes such argument with many saying that the governor has so much to hide at the expense of the safety of life and property in the State.
This is much so as the request by NAOSRE, “To access documents of the security votes accrual to the Oyo State government in the past two years,” had not yielded any response as of the time of filling this phase one report in the ongoing investigation.
NAOSRE is a body of publishers
and professional journalists from the digital and conventional news platforms, made up of the finest hands in Nigeria’s security reportage.
The association’s goal is to professionally bridge the information gap between government, security agencies and the general public on security related matters.
IGP Usman Alkali Baba Congratulates WBF Boxing Champion Constable Yetunde Abbey Aina on Victory Over UK Laura Pain
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, on behalf of the entire Police Force, has congratulated the famous Police Constable, Mary Yetunde Aina (aka Iron Abbey), on her victory at the international championship bout against United Kingdom’s Laura Pain, on her soil, to clinch the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) International Super Bantamweight title belt at City Coast Centre in Portslade, East Sussex, London on Friday February 18, 2022.
A statement, signed by Police spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi and made available to National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, disclosed that, Abbey, who serves in the Lagos State Police Command, has distinguished herself greatly in the boxing sphere by winning several awards and recommendations as a Boxing Referee at the amateur level.
The statement added that Abbey is equally a renowned boxing judge and professional boxer with a clean sheet and several amateur wins to her name.
The IGP, who intends to receive the champion in Nigeria on arrival soon, commended the cop for her courage and giant strides in making the nation and the Nigeria Police Force proud. In the same vein, the IGP called on sports enthusiasts within the Force to be unrelenting in developing their skills and dauntless in charting new frontiers in the world of sports.
Similarly, IGP while applauding the unprecedented feats recorded in the Nigeria Police Sports circle, charged officers of the Nigeria Police Force to develop and diversify their talents towards the advancement of modern policing strategies that are capable of strengthening the internal security of the country as required.
