The Federal Government has been monitoring the social media accounts of Nigerians who are suspected of having links with various terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq, findings have shown.

It was learnt that through covert operations, which have been going on for a while, security agencies hack into the Facebook and Twitter accounts of those they are monitoring.
The move, it was learnt, was meant to frustrate
terrorist attacks on the country.
The project, which is costing the country millions of dollars, is being managed by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Multiple sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to inform the press about the security checks, stated that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan approved the request by security agencies to spy on targeted sections of the population, mainly religious extremists and radicalised individuals.
It was gathered that the project is being coordinated by some foreign firms, including an Israeli firm, Elbit System.
Our correspondent learnt that the local espionage involves hacking of phones, email accounts, social media accounts and bugging of telephone conversations of persons of interest.

A source said, “The surveillance system is not being used to target everyone, as people may want to believe. It is only deployed to get intelligence on specific targets because it would be hard and difficult to use such system to spy on all Nigerians; the amount of data would be too huge and staggering for the assessors to sort and manage.
“Basically, the system is used to hack into emails and phones of targets, and the targets are those who are suspected of having ties with terrorists, whether Boko Haram, ISIS or any other criminal element.”

It was also learnt that the system had greatly assisted security agencies to nip in the bud and also frustrate many terror plots and attacks across the country.
The security agencies had been using electronic
trackers, which they were used to track and
apprehend kidnappers.
But it was learnt that the electronic surveillance
system is more effective and has better capacities to hack emails, passwords and social media accounts used by terrorists to recruit members.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel
Ojukwu, confirmed that security agencies were using a sophisticated surveillance system as part of measures to combat crime and terrorism in the country.

He said, “It is not a new technology. Everywhere in the world, it is used, including drones and other sophisticated equipment. Nigeria is part of the international community; we have our surveillance system, which shows that Nigeria is developing.”

Ojukwu said the security agencies respect the rights of Nigerians and were not using the system to hack the phones and computers of innocent Nigerians.

The Department of State Services could not be
reached for information on their use of the
surveillance system.

www.punchng.com/news/fg-monitors-nigerians-facebook-twitter-accounts/

Cc: lalasticlala, ishilove

This is not abnormal. Every country does it and even private individuals. Companies do it to their employees. I just hope it won't be used to victimize their opponents if not its a nice development.

Nice idea

yes, that's news.

K

They are welcome !!
it is better for them to watch and see what we Nigerians chat about !!!
I wanna see Buhari becoming part of Nairaland community ..... He has read where they called him BabaGoSlow but I believe he never see DauraD*lla*d .......

Wonderful! Very soon, they'll send DSS to watch me sleeping so as to know what I talk in my sleep.... They might also soon start watching me make love to regulate how hard I go.... So that I shouldn't go too hard and injure a Nigerian. Bunch of paranoid fellows. before una blame Buhari na Jonathan set am up to see whether Dickpickin(Dickson) dey follow him beloved Patience chat o

Its just like searching the house of a suspected criminal with out a search warrant its normal pls next news

handie:
Wonderful! Very soon, they'll send DSS to watch me sleeping so as to know what I talk in my sleep.... They might also soon start watching me make love to regulate how hard I go....

duh.


just release the info before they do it for you.

consider it "research".

It makes sense, we are in 21st century. Things like this does not worth being in the news, most countries do it.

Good move

Ok...I don't have any problem with that.

Good step

ok

[size=28pt]Buhari is a behind boko haram and fulani militias in the middle belt[/size]

Now trace that or should I increase the font size?

And for the mumu wey una be una come decide to reveal such sensitive information to the public so dat the terrorist group will be aware and take precautions.