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· The U.S. Administration condemned the ongoing suspension of Twitter by the Nigerian government
· The U.S. Department further condemned the Nigerian National Broadcasting Commission for issuing the advisory to all television and radio broadcasters to cease using Twitter
· The Nigerian government indefinitely suspended Twitter after the company deleted a controversial tweet President Muhammadu Buhari made about a secessionist movement
The U.S. Administration condemned the ongoing suspension of Twitter by the Nigerian government. This is a stand diametrically opposite to that of President Trump had taken publicly a few day ago as reported by www.trends,africa.com . He praised Nigerian President Buhari for banning Twitter in Nigeria. Twitter has also banned Trump for inciting people to march to the Capitol Hill in January this year upon him losing the US presidential elections. The US said that the threats to arrest and prosecute Nigerians who use Twitter were unwarranted.
The U.S. Department further condemned the Nigerian National Broadcasting Commission for issuing the advisory to all television and radio broadcasters to cease using Twitter. Freedom of expression and access to information both online and offline are foundational to prosperous and secure democratic societies, the US has pointed out in a statement issued.
The Nigerian government indefinitely suspended Twitter after the company deleted a controversial tweet President Muhammadu Buhari made about a secessionist movement. Pro-Biafra separatists have been accused of attacking police and government buildings in the recent days. Condemning this action Nigerian President Buhari in a tweet vowed to “treat them in the language they understand.”Howver, Twitter has deleted the post calling it abusive.
More than 1 million people died during the 1967-1970 civil wars. The secessionists from the southeast sought to create an independent Biafra for the ethnic Igbo people. Buhari is an ethnic Fulani. Twitter said it is deeply concerned by the government’s action. There
are an estimated 40 million Twitter users in Nigeria.
