Nigerian police have announced plans to start prosecuting and jailing individuals who insult government officials and others on social media.
According to Spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, “raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not expression of freedom or criticism, and is punishable”.
This move has sparked controversy, with many arguing that it’s an attempt to stifle free speech and criticism. Others have pointed out that the police should focus on addressing misconduct within their own ranks rather than targeting citizens who express themselves online.
It’s worth noting that the Inspector General had previously urged Nigerians to refrain from reporting police misconduct on social media, instead advising them to direct such complaints to the Complaints Response Unit.