The phone line of Nigeria's Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, has been compromised by hackers. The minister swiftly took to his official X account to sound the alarm, warning the public to steer clear of the affected number until further notice. Professor Mamman cautioned the public to refrain from calling the number and ignore any messages requesting assistance.
This cautionary message was echoed by the Ministry of Education, which confirmed the breach in a statement released on Friday September 27, 2024.
“My phone line has been compromised. Please refrain from calling the number and ignore any messages requesting assistance until the issue is resolved. Thank you for your understanding.”
Meanwhile the Ministry's Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, revealed that the compromised line is now in the hands of unauthorized individuals. “The Office of the Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, wishes to inform the general public that the Minister’s WhatsApp number has been hacked and is currently being used by unauthorised individuals.
“We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause and urge everyone to disregard any message of request received from the said number until further notice.
The Ministry has also assured the public that the matter is being taken seriously, with relevant authorities already investigating the breach. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity linked to the hacked number.
“The matter has been reported to the relevant authorities and is under investigation. We advise all members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”
Recall that last month governor Eno, who is also a pastor and founder of the All Nations Christian Ministry International, is currently on an official working visit in the United States and is expected to return next week. The hackers reportedly used the compromised WhatsApp number to solicit money from the governor's contacts, asking them to transfer specific amounts to a designated account with promises of reimbursement later.
In one instance, the impostors requested a close ally of the governor to send N7 million on the governor's behalf, promising to repay the sum later. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, confirmed in a statement that the governor's WhatsApp number had been "cloned" by criminals attempting to defraud unsuspecting individuals.
The security breach raises concerns about the vulnerability of Nigeria's communication systems. As the investigation unfolds, Nigerians are urged to exercise caution when interacting with the Minister's office. The public is advised not to respond to messages from the compromised number and to report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.
