By Muhammad Sal
The Department of State Services (DSS) has demanded that X, formerly known as Twitter, deactivate the account of Omoyele Sowore, publisher and former presidential hopeful, within 24 hours. This action follows a controversial tweet deemed threatening to Nigeria’s national security.
Sowore posted a message, on August 25, 2025, at about 11:38 PM local time, criticizing President Bola Tinubu. The secret police flagged the remark for its potential to incite unrest. According to an official letter signed by B. Bamigboye on behalf of the DSS Director-General, the tweet accused the President of dishonesty regarding corruption claims.
The message emphasized concerns that the content might provoke violent reactions, particularly from Tinubu’s supporters who had already begun public demonstrations. Government officials argued that the post disrespected the President’s reputation and jeopardized the nation’s image internationally.
The petition referenced several sections of Nigerian law, emphasizing that spreading false information and inflammatory statements online is illegal. They cited the Criminal Code Act, the Cyber Crimes Act 2025, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 as relevant legal frameworks that criminalize such behaviour and hold both the author and the hosting platform accountable.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Sowore had yet to respond to the government’s request by the time this report was published. The DSS stressed that failure to comply could lead to comprehensive enforcement actions to uphold security and public order.
This development raises eyebrows about freedom of expression and the limits of online speech in Nigeria’s digital landscape.
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