The Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, revealed on Sunday that one of the mobile numbers linked to Governor Bassey Otu has been compromised by hackers, News About Nigeria reports.
He said that the perpetrators are attempting to extort money from unsuspecting individuals through unsolicited messages purportedly seeking financial assistance.
Ogbeche cautioned the public to disregard any such messages and emphasised that the hacked number has been secured.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Ogbeche stated, “There has been apprehension in many quarters over unsolicited messages allegedly from Governor Bassey Otu seeking financial assistance… The hacked number has been secured, while relevant security agencies are working to apprehend those behind this obnoxious act.”
He urged members of the public not to fall for the deceptive attempts of the hackers and assured them that appropriate security measures were being taken to address the situation.
Meanwhile, George Oben-Etche, the Chairman of Cross River State Forestry Commission, raised concerns about threats to his life by armed gangs opposing his efforts to curb illegal wood logging in the state.
Speaking at a workshop organised by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Oben-Etche disclosed that he has received numerous threat messages from unnamed persons and alleged that armed gangs, with influential backing, are involved in illegal logging activities.
Oben-Etche said that despite the threats, he will continue to prosecute offenders and restore the state’s forests to their previous state.
He accused some traditional rulers and prominent individuals of appealing for out-of-court settlements, but he pledged to continue with prosecutions, vowing that the perpetrators would be jailed to deter others, provided there is political will from the state government.
