The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has refuted claims that its Statistician-General, Adeniran Adeyemi, was summoned by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a recent report on ransom payments in Nigeria.
The controversial report, published on December 17, revealed that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransoms between May 2023 and April 2024. The findings sparked intense national and international reactions. However, just hours after its release, the NBS website was hacked, with its landing page displaying the message: “Page hacked.”
Claims of DSS Involvement
Media outlets had alleged that the DSS invited Adeyemi for questioning regarding the methodology and data used in the report. However, the NBS has categorically denied these claims.
Ichedi Sunday, NBS’s head of communications, stated that the DSS made no such contact. Sunday, who confirmed being with Adeyemi the evening the rumors emerged, labeled the reports as baseless. “There was no call or invitation from the DSS,” he affirmed.
NBS Stands by Its Findings
Despite the controversy, the NBS maintains that the report’s findings are accurate and credible, emphasizing the urgent need to address the alarming levels of ransom payments in the country. The Bureau has urged the public to dismiss the false claims and focus on the gravity of the reported figures.
Hackers Target NBS Website
In a separate but related development, the NBS website was breached less than a day after the report’s publication. The hack, which replaced the homepage with a simple message reading “Page hacked,” has raised questions about the motivations behind the cyberattack.
Broader Security Context
The incident coincides with other high-profile security developments, including the DSS’s recent questioning of individuals protesting against government policies. While the reasons behind the misinformation and cyberattack remain unclear, the situation highlights the sensitivity of issues related to crime and security in Nigeria.
The NBS has reiterated its commitment to transparency and accuracy in its work, urging the public to focus on solutions to the challenges highlighted by the report rather than on baseless distractions.
