The Department of State Services (DSS) has written to X (formerly Twitter), demanding the urgent suspension of the verified account of activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore over a post on President Bola Tinubu.
The agency alleged that Sowore’s August 25 post, in which he described Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to the president’s anti-corruption remarks in Brazil, was capable of inciting violence and undermining national security.
In a letter dated September 6, signed by B. Bamigboye on behalf of the DSS Director-General, the agency said the “tweet” ridiculed the president before the international community and had already sparked protests by Tinubu’s supporters.
“The said tweet is still in circulation and has attracted widespread condemnation by majority of Nigerians, some of whom may resort to unwholesome activities… thereby creating political tension and threatening the country’s national security,” the letter reads.
The DSS accused Sowore of spreading misleading information, hate speech, and online harassment, claiming the remarks amounted to an offence under Nigeria’s Criminal Code, Cybercrime Act, and Terrorism Prevention Act, potentially classifiable as domestic terrorism.
The agency demanded that X take down the post and deactivate Sowore’s account within 24 hours, warning that failure to comply would force the federal government to adopt “far-reaching, sweeping and across-the-board measures.”
Both Sowore and X Corp, the DSS added, could be held criminally liable for the publication and its circulation.
The letter concluded:
“This demand is unequivocal with its attendant consequence. Should you fail, neglect, and refuse to comply… the Federal Government will be compelled to take far-reaching measures through our organization, whose mandate covers such criminal acts.”
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, is yet to respond publicly to the DSS’ demand.
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