Niger: Hacker ring targets Nigerian companies over Ecowas threat of military action
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Sudanese hacker group, says it is targeting Nigerian companies over the threat of military action in Niger.
Nigeria’s national IT agency issued an advisory for the public as the group attacks NITDA and also claimed responsibility for an attack on MTN.
On Wednesday morning, Anonymous Sudan, a pro-Russian hacktivist group, issued a warning to Nigerians on its Telegram channel. By midday, the group claimed it had launched a cyberattack against MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest telco.
Although MTN has not confirmed the attack, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) confirmed in a press release that Anonymous Sudan targeted its digital infrastructure and advised Nigerian financial service providers, government bodies, and telcos to prepare for a series of attacks. The agency also outlined ways to prevent the attacks.
According to the hacker group, the attack, the first in what it claims will be a series, is motivated by Nigeria’s proposed military intervention in Niger.
“They are attempting to cut power and are willing to participate in the French colonialistic planned invasion of Niger,” read a statement from the group on its Telegram channel.
On Wednesday, Nigeria cut power supply to Niger, the first of sanctions against the country.
The sanctions are in response to the removal of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum by the junta. West Africa’s regional bloc-ECOWAS, led by President Bola Tinubu, have asked the coup plotters to restore Bazoum within the week or face military action.
