The Nigerian police, under the current government, have threatened to prosecute and jail Nigerians who direct curses at President Bola Tinubu’s administration and individuals on social media.
According to Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, such behavior constitutes cyberbullying and is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.
Adejobi addressed the issue in a post on X (formerly Twitter), clarifying that targeting individuals with abusive language online goes beyond freedom of expression and enters the realm of criminality.
“Raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not an expression of freedom or criticism,” he wrote. “And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offense and punishable. Be guided.”
The announcement has sparked widespread reactions on social media. Felix Abayomi, tweeting as #felabayomi, questioned the legal framework for such actions. “When does raining curses become a crime? I look forward to the day someone will challenge these laws,” he wrote.
Another user, tweeting under the pseudonym #kingkhone4real, expressed skepticism. “If that were the case, then all Nigerians should have been in prison by now,” they replied.
The police statement has reignited debates about the limits of free speech in Nigeria and the legal ramifications of online behavior.
