The Department of State Services (DSS) has petitioned Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to deactivate the account of human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore. The petition, dated September 7, 2025, claims that Sowore's posts on Facebook threaten Nigeria's national security and are defamatory towards President Bola Tinubu.
Reasons Behind the Petition
- *National Security Concerns*: The DSS alleges that Sowore's posts caused "online and offline tension" and threatened the country's national security by disparaging and ridiculing the President.
- *Defamatory Content*: The agency claims that Sowore's statements constitute an offense punishable under Nigerian law, specifically sections 51 of the Criminal Code Act and sections 19, 22, and 24 of the Cyber Crimes Act 2025 ¹.
Sowore's Response
Sowore has condemned the DSS's petition, describing it as "another act of national disgrace" and a continuation of state-sponsored harassment. He vowed not to delete the tweet in question, citing Meta's policy of notifying users before taking action on their content ².
Implications
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the Nigerian government and social media activists. The DSS's petition raises questions about freedom of expression and the limits of online speech in Nigeria.
Related Developments
- *Previous Petition to X Corp*: The DSS had previously petitioned X Corp (formerly Twitter) to deactivate Sowore's account for similar reasons.
- *Account Deactivation*: Sowore's Facebook account has reportedly been deactivated, although the exact reason is unclear. Some sources suggest it may be related to his criticisms of Peter Obi, while others link it to the DSS's petition ¹ ³ ⁴.
