Police launch hunt after official X account hacked, warns public against sharing fake news

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Police Force has launched an investigation and issued a stern warning after its official X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked and used to spread false and misleading information, including fake news about the death of a senior national leader.

In a statement released on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the Police clarified that none of the content that was circulated from its official X account originated from the Force.

The statement emphasised that the posts were intended to deceive the public and sow confusion by appearing as official communication.

“The circulating information is entirely false. The Police Force does not, and would never, publish such content through its official platforms,” the statement said.

The Force confirmed that investigations are underway to track down the perpetrators of the cyberattack and hold them accountable. The public has been urged to disregard the fake messages and refrain from forwarding or sharing them further.

“We urge members of the public to ignore the disinformation and avoid becoming channels for its distribution. Legal action will be taken against any individual found to be involved in creating, disseminating, or amplifying such misleading content,” the statement added.

The hacking incident forms part of a broader cyberattack that also targeted other high-profile Tanzanian X accounts, including those of Simba SC, media personality Odemba, and telecom company Airtel Tanzania. The same false message about the death of a prominent leader was shared across these compromised accounts, raising alarm among users before the involved parties issued clarifications.

The Police Force has since disassociated itself from the false posts and vowed to enhance its cybersecurity measures moving forward.