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DSS Demands X Deactivate Sowore’s Account Over Tinubu Criticism

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File photo of Sowore, DSS logo and Bola Tinubu
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Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has asked social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to deactivate the account of activist Omoyele Sowore after he described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal” in a post.

In a letter addressed to X Corp. dated September 6, the DSS said Sowore’s remarks amounted to misleading information, incitement to violence, and hate speech, warning that they posed a serious threat to national security.

The post, made on August 25, 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!”

The DSS cited Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act, as well as provisions of the Cybercrimes Act 2025 and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, arguing that the statement was criminally offensive and capable of provoking unrest. It said protests by Tinubu’s supporters had already emerged in response to the post.

The security agency gave X a 24-hour deadline to delete the tweet, remove any retweets, and ban Sowore’s verified handle @YeleSowore, or face unspecified consequences.

Sowore has rejected the demand, accusing the government of attempting to silence him. He vowed not to take down the post, while civil rights groups have criticized the DSS move as a threat to free speech.

X, which confirmed receipt of the letter, has not deleted the content and stated that it does not comply with government takedown requests without proper legal backing.

The development has sparked renewed debate over freedom of expression, digital rights, and government control of online platforms in Nigeria.

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