Decentralised international ‘hacktivist’ group, Anonymous, has claimed to have hacked several government databases, including one which contains names and contact of operatives of the now-defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS). The cyber activist group revealed this via a Twitter handle.
#Nigeria: Anonymous hacks multiple government websites in solidarity with #EndSARS protestors and retribution for violence by police. #OpNigeria #EndSARSProtest
src: https://t.co/cjDdEfPB8w pic.twitter.com/F2J7qvz35W
— Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) October 14, 2020
This comes even as an audio message purportedly from the group issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to Nigeria’s Federal Government to address the demands of the #EndSARS protesters is circulating around social media. In the audio recording, a computer-generated voice could be heard announcing the ‘peaceful warning.’
Anonymous gives Nigerian government 72 hours to #EndPoliceBrutality or face the consequences #EndSWAT pic.twitter.com/SpWY6ep9rI
— Sevo (@Sevo411) October 15, 2020
Although, hacktivist group did not say which websites were hacked, the Nigerian police’s website was down as at 12:21 am on Thursday.
Wow what a time to be alive and to be a proud Nigerian youth..
Anonymous hacked SARS database and has leaked the themselves of their officers now let’s dig deep and fish out all those Killers..
We don wake up
Our time is now#EndSWAT #EndBadGovernanceinNIGERIA
Verified
Adamu pic.twitter.com/Mphq2tUODs— Iwuh Anslem Chukwuemeka (@Dcatalyst10) October 15, 2020
“This proves the level of brutality caused by the police and the government who have both violated the rights of the citizens. Irrespective of tribe, it’s disheartening that you won’t bring to justice every police who have involved in the killing of the protesters. This is not a threat, this is a peaceful warning from us. You have 72 hours to hear and assure your citizens,” the recording says.
Anonymous is a decentralised group of anonymous hackers widely known for carrying out anonymous cyberattacks against governments and government agencies. It was formed in 2003.
Anonymous’ ultimatum is coming after Jack Dorsey joined the #ENDSARS protest by the Nigerian youths seeking the reformation of the police as well as an end to SARS. The Twitter CEO made this known in a tweet yesterday with the hashtag #ENDSARS which trended as number 1 globally on October 10.
