The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, on Thursday clarified that the Department of State Services, DSS, did not summon the Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeniran Adeyemi.

NBS issued the clarification following the hacking of its website and the subsequent leak of controversial reports on ransom payments in Nigeria.

On December 17, NBS published its Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey. According to the report, Nigerians paid a total of N2.23 trillion in ransom within one year, from May 2023 to April 2024.

Soon after the report was released, the agency’s website was hacked.

Following the incident, rumours circulated that DSS had invited Adeyemi for questioning regarding the methodology and data used in the report.

However, NBS Head of Communications, Ichedi Sunday, denied the claims, stating that Adeyemi was never invited by DSS.

A statement from Sunday read: “I can authoritatively say the reports are not true. I was with the Statistician-General late last night when the news broke, and there was no call from the DSS.

“Several platforms reached out to me, and I told them the information was false. I also spoke to him [Adeyemi] today. So, this is not true. I don’t know why such incorrect information is still being circulated.”