5G migration: Beware of cyberattacks, police warn Nigerians

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has warned against cyberattacks as people migrate to the 5G network. 

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force public relations officer (PRO), said this on Wednesday in a statement.

The statement was in reaction to a viral Whatsapp post warning Nigerians of a possible breach in the migration to the 5G network.

Adejobi said according to Ifeanyi Henry, the director of  NPF-NCCC, the general public is advised to disregard the post as it is misleading and setting the ground for likely cyberattacks. 

“The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) hereby warns members of the public and strategic stakeholders in national security matters to be wary of a suspected ploy by subversive elements to prepare the ground for likely phishing and cyber-attacks through the deliberate publication and dissemination of a WhatsApp message, currently in circulation, purportedly from the Cybercrime Department of the Nigeria Police Force informing the general public of the commencement and warning of possible breaches in the migration protocols to the 5G network services,” the statement reads. 

“The Director in charge of the NPF-NCCC, DCP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, has noted that the message did not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and therefore warns the general public to be wary as it is likely the handiwork of cyber criminals setting the grounds to fleece innocent and unsuspecting members of the public of their monies or to steal their identities.

“The general public is hereby advised to discountenance the broadcast message and cease sharing such, as it is deceptive and misleading.

“Genuine guidelines on the roll-out and migration to the 5G network will be available in due time on authorised websites and verified social media handles of the NPF-NCCC, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Telecom Companies, and other communication service providers.”

In December 2021, after rounds of bidding, Mafab and MTN Nigeria were the two successful winners of the 3.5gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction for the deployment of 5G technology in Nigeria.

In August 2022, MTN Nigeria announced that it had kicked off an open 5G pilot ahead of commercial launch in seven cities.