DSS Asks X To Delete Sowore’s ‘Criminal’ Tinubu Post
The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked the social media platform X, to delete the post made by an activist, Omoyele Sowore, in which he referred to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu as a criminal.
The secret service agency gave X 24 hours to remove the post and all subsequent retweets or be ready for far-reaching consequences.
The demand was made in a letter to the company dated September 6 and signed by B. Bamigboye on behalf of the DSS Director-General.
It said that the post not only ridiculed the president but also Nigeria in the international community.
According to the DSS, Sowore’s post is not only misleading, but an online harassment and hate speech, as well as willful attempt to cause disunity and damage Nigeria’s image.
“The author and purveyor of the inflammatory online publication against Mr President is very much aware that the publication is prohibited by Nigerian law,” the DSS wrote, citing relevant sections of the criminal code, the cybercrime act, and the terrorism prevention act.
It added that the said post could be classified as “domestic terrorism” under Nigerian law.
The DSS, therefore, said X must remove the post and deactivate Sowore’s account, warning that both Sowore and X would be held criminally liable for the publication and its circulation.
“It is against the above highlighted backdrop that we make an immediate and urgent demand on your Corporation to as a matter of its own policy, immediately TAKE DOWN the tweet and its attendant re-tweets,” the letter added.
“This demand is unequivocal with its attendant consequence.
“Should you fail, neglect and refuse to comply with the command in this notice, the Federal Government will be compelled to take far-reaching, sweeping and across-the-board measures through our Organization, whose mandate covers such criminal acts.
“In the light of the above having been made official to you, 24 hours is sufficient enough to take necessary action.”
