FACT-CHECK: Was a Man Trapped in Ceiling after Trying to Hack FCMB Bank?
CLAIM: A viral video circulating widely on social media, especially on platform X, alleges that a man was caught attempting to hack into the computer systems of an FCMB (First City Monument Bank) branch after spending the night hidden inside the bank’s ceiling.
The text accompanying the video reads in part: “This ‘customer’ entered our FCMB bank in Secretariat yesterday, went straight to the toilet and locked himself there, then climbed inside the ceiling. When he noticed that all the staff had gone, he came down and tried to hack all the systems… This morning, when my colleagues arrived, they noticed the door was locked from inside. They had to break in and that’s when they found someone on top of the ceiling. Immediately they turned on the system, it started showing ‘Restarting, click OK to accept.’”
The video triggered widespread reactions online, sparking conversations on bank security, economic desperation, and police conduct. Many users expressed shock, while others criticized the security lapses that allowed such an incident to occur.
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is a prominent Nigerian financial institution with branches across the country. It provides banking and financial services to millions of Nigerians and has a reputation for leveraging digital technology to enhance its operations.
VERIFICATION:
To verify the authenticity of the claim, PRNigeria Fact-Check Team conducted a keyword search and social media analysis.
Our investigation found that the video first started trending first week of July 2025, quickly garnering thousands of views across multiple platforms.
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Further verification revealed that the incident did occur at an FCMB branch located in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. The man, who is yet to be identified, allegedly gained access to the premises by pretending to be a customer during working hours. He then locked himself inside the toilet, climbed into the ceiling, and waited until closing hours to attempt accessing the bank’s systems.
Local media reports and eyewitness accounts confirm that when bank staff resumed the following morning, they noticed the restroom door was locked from inside. After forcing it open, they found the man hiding in the ceiling. When the computer systems were turned on, they reportedly displayed a suspicious prompt: “Restarting. Click OK to accept.”
Security operatives were called in and the suspect was arrested. However, a portion of the video shows him being physically assaulted, which has drawn public criticism and condemnation from police authorities.
Reacting to the video, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described the officers’ conduct as “unprofessional” and assured the public that the incident would be investigated.
“Unprofessional conduct. Too bad. Many indecent acts were spotted in the video. We will look into it holistically,” Adejobi stated on X.
While FCMB has yet to release an official statement, some of its official platforms have issued warnings urging customers to protect their accounts and avoid using easily guessed passwords like their date of birth.
CONCLUSION:
After a thorough investigation, PRNigeria can confirm that the claim is true. A man was indeed caught hiding overnight in the ceiling of an FCMB branch in Owerri, Imo State, in an apparent attempt to hack into the bank’s systems. He has since been apprehended and handed over to the police.
VERDICT: True
The viral claim that a man was caught attempting to hack an FCMB branch from the ceiling is accurate and supported by available evidence and reports.
By PRNigeria
