On Tuesday, followers of the Westerville Public Library’s social account got a nasty surprise when a string of posts suddenly appeared urging violence against Nigerian politicians. Library staff says the inflammatory messages were not written by any employees and moved quickly to purge the feed and regain control of the account, rattling regulars who are used to the library’s usually low-traffic presence in Uptown Westerville.
What appeared on the account
The Columbus Dispatch reported that the library’s X account first posted a message calling for the death of Nigerian politicians, starting with the country’s president. According to the paper, most of those posts were wiped from the feed within about half an hour. The Dispatch also noted that the account had been sitting dormant since 2024 before the violent statements suddenly went live, and its full report includes the timeline and language that circulated on the platform.
Library response
After the posts appeared, the library issued a short note on X that read, “Please disregard any recent posts you may have seen from the Westerville Library on this platform today. Thank you for your understanding.” As reported by The Columbus Dispatch, communications director Tamara Murray told the paper the account was hacked shortly before the messages were published and that staff were working to recover passwords. The library did not immediately say whether law enforcement had been notified.
Local context
The Westerville Public Library is a neighborhood mainstay, known far more for storytimes, classes, and community events than for social media drama. Its official site lists hours, programs, and contact information for anyone who wants to double-check notices or changes to service. For residents looking for verified updates in the wake of the incident, the library’s website remains the go-to source. Westerville Public Library
Takeaway
Short hijackings of municipal and nonprofit social accounts have become a recurring headache, and the playbook is familiar: delete the offending posts, reset credentials, and when needed, loop in authorities. Westerville library officials say they are working to secure the account and will share any further developments through their official channels as they become available.
