Sowore Slams DSS Over Move to Deactivate Facebook Account
Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of abusing its powers after the agency reportedly asked Meta, owners of Facebook, to shut down his account over a post critical of President Bola Tinubu.
The latest development comes barely 24 hours after the DSS wrote to social media platform X, demanding the removal of a tweet in which Sowore described President Tinubu as a “criminal.” The agency claimed the post was defamatory and a threat to national security, but Sowore has refused to take it down.
In a statement on Monday, Sowore revealed that the DSS has now extended its request to Facebook. He shared a letter dated September 7, 2025, signed by Uwem Davies on behalf of the DSS Director-General, in which the agency asked Meta to suspend his account.
The letter, addressed to Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, accused Sowore of spreading “misleading information” and engaging in “hate speech” through a post he made on August 26, 2025. The post reportedly criticized Tinubu’s remarks during a trip to Brazil and accused him of making false claims on corruption.
Titled “Misleading Information and Willful Intention to Further an Ideology Capable of Serious Harm, Incitement to Violence, Cyber Crime, Hate Speech to Discredit/Disparage the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Cause Serious Threat to National Security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the DSS letter demanded the “immediate and urgent deactivation” of Sowore’s Facebook account and any other related handles.
The agency cited several laws to back its demand, including Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act, Sections 19, 22, and 24 of the Cyber Crimes Act 2025, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. It also warned Meta of “far-reaching, sweeping measures” should the company fail to comply within 24 hours—a deadline expiring on September 8, 2025.
Reacting, Sowore blasted the DSS as “lawless” and “incompetent,” accusing it of neglecting urgent security challenges while chasing after social media posts.
“Too idle and incompetent to secure Nigeria… has now written to @facebook, begging them to delete content they find ‘offensive’ to their equally idle, tired, and criminal Commander-in-Chief,” he wrote.
The activist also pointed to the killing of more than 130 people in a recent attack, questioning why the DSS prioritizes social media censorship over protecting lives.
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