Amnesty International Nigeria has strongly condemned the Department of State Services (DSS) for reportedly asking X (formerly Twitter) to remove a post by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, describing the move as an attack on free expression and an abuse of power.
In a post on its official X handle, @AmnestyNigeria, the rights group said the demand was a “shocking attempt to silence critical voices and generate a climate of fear on Nigeria’s social media space.”
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Sowore, who was notified by X about the request, said the DSS also sought the deactivation of his account. Amnesty described the action as outrageous and without legal justification, stressing that it violated Nigeria’s obligations under the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, all of which guarantee freedom of expression.
“Authorities must refrain from violating human rights online, including the rights to freedom of expression and privacy, and fulfil their constitutional and international human rights obligations,” Amnesty said.
The group also urged X not to bow to censorship demands by the Nigerian government but to protect the voices of activists and uphold freedom of expression on its platform.
