The Nigerian government has given social media giant X.com just 24 hours to delete an anti-Tinubu tweet posted by activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, branding it “inflammatory” and a threat to national security.
The controversial tweet, in which Sowore blasted President Bola Tinubu for declaring in Brazil that corruption had ended under his government, read:
“This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
In a strongly worded letter to X.com’s Chairman and CEO, headquartered in Texas, the Department of State Services (DSS) accused Sowore of spreading “misleading and harmful information” with the intention of inciting violence, promoting hate speech, cybercrime, and discrediting Nigeria’s leader on the global stage.
Signed by Mr. B. Bamigboye on behalf of the DSS Director-General, the letter insisted that the post not only embarrassed the President but also risked sparking nationwide unrest. The DSS claimed Sowore’s words violated several Nigerian laws, including Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act and multiple sections of the Cybercrime Act 2025, which outlaw false and misleading online publications, as well as offensive and abusive content.
The DSS went further, stating that Sowore’s post fell foul of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, and argued that both the author and the platform hosting the message could be held criminally liable.
“The words employed by Mr. Omoyele Sowore constitute online harassment, abuse, hate speech and wilful intent to cause disunity, discredit the President of Nigeria, and damage the country’s image in the comity of nations,” the letter read.
The security agency demanded that X.com take down the tweet and all related retweets, warning of “far-reaching consequences” should the platform fail to comply.
“Twenty-four hours is sufficient enough to take necessary action,” the DSS said, leaving the ball firmly in X.com’s court.
At the time of filing this report, it remained unclear whether the platform had responded to the ultimatum.
