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.
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.’
“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.
In addition to lending his voice to the protest online, Dorsey used his Twitter handle to ask people to donate money to the cause via bitcoin.
The donations made in support of the protest so far are N62,643,663 out of which N13,026,580 has been used to sort bills including medical bills and purchase of supplies like food, umbrellas and raincoats.
Nigerians have taken to Twitter to show appreciation and endorsement of Dorsey’s open stand with the masses.
Adamu Garba comes for Jack
Jack Dorsey’s support and endorsement hasn’t gone down well with some members of the ruling class though. One of them is former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba who took to social media to make his objection known.
In his tweet, Garba who contested under the ruling APC advised Jack Dorsey to stay out of the protest which he described as a “political agitation, capable of breaking law & order in our country”. He also admonished the CEO not to be a “moral & financial sponsor to this.”
Garba went on to say that most of the demands of the protest had been met by the relevant authorities in Nigeria, citing the disbandment of SARS as a major achievement.
Suggested Read: #EndSARS: 4 Ways You Can Remain Online During an Internet Shutdown
Following Mr Garba’s tweet, protesters have taken to social media to drag him, with some saying that Garba’s response is because he is a beneficiary of the bad and corrupt governance system in the country.
Some others have called for the suspension of Garba’s Twitter account, saying they are not part of the ‘US’ in the ‘Nigeria’ that he claims to be advocating for.
The protests have continued to gather momentum with each passing day as protesters say they aren’t leaving the streets until their demands are fully met.
