By Chinaza Osigwe
The Anambra State Government has issued a strong warning to residents to remain vigilant and report any individuals or groups requesting their National Identification Number (NIN), following the uncovering of a fraudulent and politically motivated identity theft scheme.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, the government debunked the existence of any ongoing NIN revalidation exercise. According to him, findings from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) confirmed that no such revalidation process is being carried out.
The Commissioner revealed that certain individuals have been moving across various communities in Anambra, falsely claiming to be conducting a revalidation of NINs. However, investigations indicate that these individuals are hired agents of desperate politicians seeking to manipulate the electoral process through identity theft and voter data manipulation.
Dr. Mefor explained that the fraudsters are using the stolen NINs and personal information to override original Voter Cards in the national database, allowing new cards to be issued in the names of the impersonators. As a result, legitimate voters risk being disenfranchised during elections, as their identities will no longer be recognized by the system.
“This is a direct assault on democracy,” the Commissioner said. “It threatens the integrity of our electoral process, and we must all rise to resist it.”
To counter the threat, the government has directed residents to immediately report any suspicious request for their NINs to the state security emergency number, 5111. Dr. Mefor emphasized that anyone caught participating in the scheme—either as a field agent or political sponsor—will face severe legal consequences.
He also called on traditional rulers, town union leaders, and community heads to help spread awareness about the scheme and educate their people to avoid falling victim.
The Anambra State Government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the identities, data, and voting rights of all citizens as the 2025 general elections approach.
