Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has demanded that social media platform X, formerly Twitter, delete a post by Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore within 24 hours.
The agency also called for the deactivation of his account, warning of “far-reaching measures” if its request is ignored.
The DSS accused Sowore of incitement, hate speech, and “domestic terrorism” after he called President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” while reacting to the president’s anti-corruption remarks in Brazil.
It claimed the post ridiculed the Nigerian leader before the international community, provoked street protests by Tinubu supporters, and posed a threat to national security.
“The said tweet is still in circulation and has attracted widespread condemnation by majority of Nigerians. Should you fail to comply, the Federal Government will be compelled to take sweeping measures through our organization,” the letter read.
The DSS warned that both Sowore and X Corp could be held criminally liable if the content remained online.
Sowore and Lawyers Push Back
Sowore and his legal team quickly denounced the move as unconstitutional censorship.
Human rights lawyer Tope Temokun, representing Sowore, sent a rebuttal to X’s legal and policy team.
“The DSS directive is illegal, without legal foundation, and an abuse of power,” Temokun wrote.
He argued that freedom of expression is protected under Section 39 of Nigeria’s Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“The DSS is not a court; it has no authority to censor citizens or direct private platforms to remove content. Only a competent court can order such action,” he added.
The letter cited Supreme Court and Court of Appeal rulings affirming that fundamental rights cannot be curtailed by executive fiat.
Sowore Calls DSS Demand Harassment
Sowore described the DSS demand as “a desecration of national dignity” and part of a broader pattern of harassment that has included arrests, travel bans, and accusations of terrorism financing.
“Today it is me; tomorrow it could be any journalist, activist, or citizen who dares to question government,” he warned.
The standoff now places X at the center of a politically charged conflict between Nigeria’s secret police and one of its most outspoken critics.
This dispute raises broader questions about state power, digital rights, and freedom of expression in Africa’s largest democracy.
Do you believe X should comply with government demands or protect users’ free speech? And what do you make of this curious opposition of Sowore against the government of Bola Tinubu? Share your opinions below.
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