As of 12:07 PM WAT on Sunday, September 07, 2025, Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has demanded X deactivate activist Omoyele Sowore’s account over an August 25 tweet labeling President Bola Tinubu a "criminal" for claiming a corruption-free regime during a Brazil trip. Reported by
@NigeriaStories
at 08:36 WAT, the DSS cites national security threats and cybercrime law violations, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to remove the post.
https://x.com/OfficialDSSNG/status/1964484933482635292?t=_2e6KJ_QKyywn7MYoEwEdA&s=19
This isn’t Sowore’s first clash with authorities. The "RevolutionNow" leader was arrested in 2019 for treason, detained for over three months, and later awarded 2 million Naira for an unlawful phone seizure. X has rejected the demand, notifying Sowore of its stance on free expression, sparking widespread debate. Users like
@SaharaReporters
and
@instablog9ja
highlight the tension, while the 2022 Freedom House report notes Nigeria’s use of sedition laws to suppress dissent amid economic struggles and banditry.With no criminal conviction tied to Tinubu (only a 1993 civil forfeiture), is this a security measure or censorship?
As the deadline looms, will X hold firm, or will Sowore face detention again? Share your views below!