The official X account (formerly known as Twitter) of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been suspended, leaving its 2.2 million followers unable to access the page as of Thursday morning, August 12, 2024. The page now displays the message “Account Suspended.”
Despite the suspension of the X account, the EFCC’s main website and other social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, remain operational.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s chief spokesman, confirmed the account’s suspension to *Peoples Gazette*, attributing the issue to a network problem. He assured that the agency’s ICT department has been working to resolve the problem for the past three days and expressed hope that the account would be restored soon.
The suspension comes on the heels of threats made by suspected internet fraudsters, known as Yahoo Boys, who vowed to wage cyber warfare against the EFCC for its intensified crackdown on online fraudulent activities. The threats, made on platforms like Reddit, were in response to what the fraudsters claimed were unconstitutional practices by the anti-graft agency, including allegations of extortion by EFCC detectives.
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In recent months, the EFCC has ramped up efforts to combat online fraud, conducting raids on hotels and university dormitories in a bid to curtail the activities of cybercriminals. While anti-corruption campaigners have praised these efforts, rights advocates have criticized the agency for alleged abuses and overreach, particularly during after-dark raids.
The exact reason for the suspension of the EFCC’s X account remains unclear. It is yet to be determined whether the suspension is linked to the cyber threats, a potential violation of X’s policies, or if it was deactivated by those managing the account. The situation is under investigation, and further updates are awaited.
