By Chimezie Godfrey
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has raised alarm over a sustained cyberattack targeting its official website, describing the development as a serious disruption to its operations and a violation of its digital rights.
In a statement issued on Saturday, April 25, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Y. Z. Ya’u, the organisation disclosed that the attack, identified as a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) assault, has rendered its website inaccessible for over 24 hours.
According to the statement, “the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) wishes to draw the attention of the general public to a sustained cyberattack on its official website in the form of a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack. The website has been inaccessible for over 24 hours, resulting in the loss and disruption of access to important organisational data.”
CITAD described the incident as a direct interference with its mandate, noting that the disruption has significantly affected its ability to carry out core functions.
“This act represents a serious disruption to our operations and an infringement on our digital rights. It has undermined our ability to impart knowledge, share information, and communicate with our community,” the organisation stated.
The group called for urgent intervention to stop the attack and prevent future occurrences, stressing the need for collective action to safeguard digital infrastructure in Nigeria.
“We call for an immediate halt to the attack and urge relevant authorities and stakeholders to support efforts to secure our digital infrastructure and prevent future occurrences,” the statement added.
CITAD further appealed to civil society organisations, human rights groups, and the media to take interest in the development, warning that such incidents pose a threat to civic engagement, especially in the digital space.
“We also call on human rights organisations, civil society groups, and the media to take note of this incident and support efforts to protect digital spaces and organisational rights,” it said.
The organisation also urged the government and relevant agencies to strengthen cybersecurity protections, particularly as the country approaches another electoral cycle.
“Furthermore, we urge the government and relevant agencies to strengthen protections against cyber threats and ensure that organisations can operate freely without undue interference. As the 2027 general elections approach, incidents like this raise concerns about the vulnerability of civic and democratic spaces online,” CITAD stated.
It also notified participants in its ongoing programmes about the impact of the attack on application records.
“We also appeal to all applicants for the Bauchi Feminist Internet School (BAFIS), Digital Literacy Training, and Digital Hygiene programmes to kindly refill their applications on our portal once it is fully restored, as previously submitted records have been lost due to the incident.”
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to digital rights advocacy and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to protect Nigeria’s online civic space.