DSS Writes Meta, Seeks Ban on Sowore’s Facebook Account Over ‘Offensive’ Posts
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
A major controversy erupted on Sunday, 7th September 2025, after Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, revealed on his official Facebook page that Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) had formally petitioned Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, demanding the immediate ban and deactivation of his account.
DSS Alleges Threat to National Security
According to Sowore’s post, the DSS accused him of publishing what it described as “misleading information, incitement to violence, hate speech, and cybercrime” against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian government. The letter, signed by Uwem Davies on behalf of the Director-General of the DSS, was addressed to Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California.
The DSS cited several Nigerian laws, including the Criminal Code Act, the Cybercrimes Act 2025, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, insisting that Sowore’s posts had crossed “the boundaries of decency and acceptable behaviour” and posed a “serious threat to national security.”
The agency referenced a 26th August 2025 post in which Sowore criticised President Tinubu over his comments on corruption in Brazil, describing the statement as “defamatory” and harmful to Nigeria’s international reputation.
Sowore’s Reaction: ‘Lawless DSS’
Reacting to the DSS letter, Sowore condemned the agency, labelling it “lawless, idle, and incompetent” for allegedly failing to protect Nigerians while focusing on silencing dissent.
“Over 130 citizens were killed just yesterday, and instead of securing the country, they are begging Facebook to protect their tired, idle, and criminal Commander-in-Chief,” Sowore wrote, insisting that the government was trying to stifle freedom of expression and dissenting voices.
24-Hour Ultimatum to Meta
In the letter, the DSS gave Meta a 24-hour ultimatum to remove Sowore’s posts and deactivate his account or face “far-reaching, sweeping and across-the-board measures” from the Nigerian government.
As of press time, Meta had not issued any public statement regarding the DSS request, and Sowore’s Facebook account remained active.
The development has since sparked widespread debate among Nigerians, with many accusing the government of attempting to clamp down on free speech under the guise of national security concerns.
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