October 17, 2020•Update: October 17, 2020
ANKARA
The international hacktivist group Anonymous on Friday seized the official Twitter account of Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission, country's broadcasting regulatory authority in support of ongoing protests against police’s ill-treatment towards citizens.
"We #Anonymous have taken over all the NG Official Twitter's Account to support #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY. WE'RE TOGETHER WITH NIGERIANS. EXPECT UNEXPECTED,” the hacktivist group tweeted on the regulator’s Twitter account after hacking it Friday morning.
"We #Anonymous Group Of Hackers will continue supporting the citizens of Nigeria," the group added.
They also threatened to expose what they called the Nigerian government’s "secrets" and "dirty files".
Anonymous’ move comes after it announced Wednesday night it has hacked “multiple” Nigerian government websites in protests against police brutality’s continuation.
"Anonymous hacks multiple government websites in solidarity with #EndSARS protesters and retribution for violence by police," the group tweeted late Wednesday.
Protesters against the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit had been going on for several days against the unit and besieged its headquarters.
They chanted “End SARS” and poured red paint on the street in front of the building – a symbolic reference to the alleged killings by SARS officers.
Despite the dissolution of SARS, the protesters continued their demonstrations calling for comprehensive police reforms -- including punishments for erring officers -- the unconditional release of all detained protesters and compensation for families of the victims of police brutality.
"The disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms in order to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and the livelihood of our people," Nigerian
President Muhammadu Buhari said on Twitter earlier this week.
In a recent report, Amnesty International said authorities failed to tackle the impunity enjoyed by SARS, whose brutality and corruption were "becoming increasingly brazen."
