The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has confirmed that its official website has been compromised by hackers.
In a statement shared on Wednesday through its official handle on X (formerly Twitter), the agency urged the public to disregard any information or reports published on the platform until it regains control of the site.
“This is to inform the public that the NBS website has been hacked, and we are working to recover it. Please disregard any message or report posted until the website is fully restored. Thank you,” the statement read.
The breach comes less than 24 hours after the bureau released its latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey Report, which detailed alarming statistics on crime incidents across Nigeria.
The report revealed that Nigerians paid a staggering ₦2.23 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024.
According to the NBS, the country witnessed an estimated 51.89 million crime incidents during the same period.
The report provided a breakdown of crime occurrences across geopolitical zones, with the north-west recording the highest number of incidents, estimated at over 14 million. In contrast, the south-east reported the least, with just over six million cases.
The report further highlighted the disparity between crime rates in rural and urban areas.
It revealed that rural areas experienced a higher number of incidents, with 26,526,069 cases, compared to 25,360,963 cases in urban areas. This disparity underscores the challenges of policing and maintaining security in less densely populated regions.
The NBS report had generated significant public discourse, with many expressing concerns over the magnitude of the figures. Analysts pointed to the high ransom payments as an indicator of the growing threat of kidnappings and the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
The hacking of the NBS website has raised questions about the motive behind the attack, with some speculating that it could be linked to the sensitive nature of the recently published report.
Others have pointed to the possibility of malicious actors aiming to disrupt the agency’s operations or spread misinformation through the compromised platform.
The NBS assured the public that efforts are underway to restore the website and safeguard its digital infrastructure against future breaches. In the meantime, the agency has advised caution, urging Nigerians to rely only on verified updates through its official social media channels.
This incident underscores the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures across government agencies, particularly those handling critical data and reports. The public eagerly awaits further updates from the NBS as it works to recover its website.
