…Sowore revealed on Sunday that the DSS had written to X demanding the removal of his tweet.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has vowed not to delete a post he made on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) criticising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite a formal request from the Department of State Services (DSS) labelling the post as “extremely dangerous.”
Sowore revealed on Sunday that the DSS had written to X demanding the removal of his tweet, which condemned President Tinubu’s remarks about corruption in Nigeria. In response, X contacted him directly to inform him of the request and his rights regarding the situation.
“This morning, X officially contacted me about the despicable threat letter they received from the DSS over my tweet on Tinubu. One option I will not be taking is deleting that tweet. Thank you, X,” Sowore wrote.
Attached to his post was a statement from X’s Trust and Safety team confirming that it had received a legal request from a Nigerian government agency regarding the content of his account.
“As X strongly believes in defending and respecting the voice of our users, it is our policy to notify our users if we receive a legal request from an authorized entity (such as law enforcement or a government agency) to remove content from their account,” the platform said.
The platform noted that while it cannot provide legal advice, it encourages users to seek counsel, challenge such requests in court, or respond as they see fit.
Sowore’s refusal to delete the tweet marks yet another flashpoint in the long-standing tensions between him and Nigerian security agencies. Known for his bold criticism of government officials and repeated clashes with the DSS, the Sahara Reporters publisher has consistently used digital platforms to amplify his political stance and activist messages.
The DSS, Nigeria’s primary domestic intelligence agency, has yet to make a public statement regarding the alleged letter. However, the development has triggered debate online about free speech, digital censorship, and the perceived intolerance of dissent by the current administration.
As the standoff unfolds, Sowore’s stance appears resolute.
“I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear,” he wrote. “No amount of intimidation will silence the truth.”
This incident underscores the growing friction between outspoken activists and state institutions in Nigeria’s evolving digital space where control, expression, and accountability often collide.
