Nigeria’s government announced that Twitter’s operations have been halted indefinitely, two days after the platform deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari threatening to punish regional secessionists in the southeast country.
Following a regulatory decree aimed at banning Twitter, Nigerian telecommunication firms barred access to Twitter.
Following the suspension, the country’s attorney general ordered that anyone who breaks the restrictions prohibiting Twitter be prosecuted immediately.
Twitter said that it was “deeply concerned” by Nigeria’s action and would work to restore access “for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world.” The reason for blocking Twitter,
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.
We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world. #KeepitOn
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) June 5, 2021
Information Minister Lai Mohammed said “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
In a tweet, Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to “immediately revoke the unconstitutional suspension and other plans to restrict the media, suppress the civic space, which undermine Nigerians’ human rights.”
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