The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has dismissed claims that the Department of State Services (DSS) summoned Adeniran Adeyemi, the Statistician-General of the Federation, following a hacking incident on the agency’s website.
The website breach occurred shortly after the release of the bureau’s Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, which reported that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024. The report sparked controversy and led to rumors that the DSS had invited Adeyemi to question the report’s methodology.
However, NBS Head of Communications, Ichedi Sunday, refuted these claims. “The reports are false. I was with the Statistician-General late last night when the news broke, and there was no contact from the DSS,” Sunday stated.
He added, “I also spoke to him today, and there’s no truth to the information being circulated. It’s unclear why such misinformation is spreading.”
The hacking incident and subsequent misinformation have drawn attention to the security challenges facing governmental institutions in the digital age. NBS has assured the public that it is taking steps to enhance its cybersecurity measures.
This development highlights the need for vigilance in managing sensitive data and addressing fake news.
