₦airaland Forum

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 by SUNDAY PUNCH have shown. Our correspondent 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 to our correspondent 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. Source : www.punchng.com/news/fg-monitors-nigerians-facebook-twitter-accounts/

Fp

Ok

Nairaland shouldn't be left out by FG, because there 're so many WAILING WAILERS here.

Federal gover and its ostrich pranks......they should go and arrest the chief justice of Nigeria Mohammed Uwais son who joined IS in January!they should face governance and stop ranting!lol......some of the Apc e-rats even told us then that there is freedom of association.Federal government should arrest him if they mean business....Nonsense

Big joke. Even the United States can't do such not to talk about Nigeria

Welcome to decree 4 of 1984 in another guise.

Mogidi:
Welcome to decree 4 of 1984 in another guise.

Borrow sense

DaBullIT:
Borrow sense

I don't debate ediots on Sundays, try Tuesday.

Mogidi:
Welcome to decree 4 of 1984 in another guise.

Mogidi:
I don't debate ediots on Sundays, try Tuesday.

EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan awards $40million contract to Israeli company to monitor computer, Internet communication by Nigerians

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/131249-exclusive-jonathan-awards-40million-contract-to-israeli-company-to-monitor-computer-internet-communication-by-nigerians.html

No need to debate, Just borrow sense