The Government of Nigeria has recently announced that it was suspending Twitter’s operations in the country, indefinitely.
“There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real world violent consequences,” the government said.
The suspension came shortly after Twitter deleted a tweet from President Mahammadu Buhari’s account for violating its “abusive policy behavior”
PRESS RELEASE
— Fed Min of Info & Cu (@FMICNigeria) June 4, 2021
FG Suspends @Twitter Operations in Nigeria pic.twitter.com/7z5BQ0Mi3U
The office of Nigeria’s attorney general and ministry of justice announced that it would prosecute and arrest anyone who tried to navigate their way around the block. However, there are several news report that said people were using VPN’s to keep using Twitter.
Buhari was a major general during the Biafra war, which left in excess of 1 million people dead. In the deleted Tweet, Buhari suggested that he would punish secessionists; “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Biafra war. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”
We are deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria. Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human right in modern society.
— Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) June 5, 2021
We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world. #KeepitOn
