The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has raised concerns about the hacking of the social media accounts of its Governing Board Chairman, Chiedu Ebie, by fraudsters.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the chairman’s Facebook account was cloned, while his Instagram account was compromised. The hackers have been using the accounts to defraud unsuspecting individuals.
The commission condemned the fraudulent activities, describing them as criminal acts intended to exploit the public and tarnish the NDDC’s reputation. The statement also revealed that the fraudsters had been misusing the commission’s name and logo to promote fraudulent business proposals.
“It has come to our notice that some fraudulent individuals have hacked the social media handles of the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Chiedu Ebie,” the statement read.
“The criminally-minded individuals cloned the chairman’s Facebook account and hacked his Instagram account, ostensibly to use the compromised accounts to defraud unsuspecting persons. The impersonators are also using the name and logo of the NDDC to send out dubious business proposals.”
The commission emphasized that these actions are damaging to the NDDC and its leadership and that security agencies have been alerted to investigate the matter and apprehend those responsible.
The public was advised to remain vigilant and avoid any engagement with fraudulent schemes linked to the hacked accounts. Efforts are underway to recover control of the compromised platforms.
“Efforts are being made to recover the compromised accounts. In the meantime, the public is advised not to transact with these faceless and dubious scammers. Anyone who deals with such persons or entities does so at their own risk,” the commission warned.
The statement clarified that the NDDC would not be held responsible for any losses or damages incurred through fraudulent interactions and urged individuals to verify all dealings through the commission’s official website and authenticated social media channels.
Members of the public were also encouraged to report any suspicious online activities to relevant authorities for prompt investigation and action.