Nigeria blocks Twitter after it deleted President Buhari’s tweet

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Nigeria has suspended Twitter following its omission of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet on Tuesday.
• Twitter said that Buhari’s tweet violated its policy on “abusive behavior.”
• Amnesty International condemned the ban, urging the Nigerian government to retract it.

After Twitter took down Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s post, the Nigerian government banned the social media giant in the country, announcing via Twitter per se.

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Information and Culture announced the ban on Friday, noting that Twitter will be “suspended indefinitely” because of “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

The suspension followed when the social media platform deleted a tweet of Buhari on Tuesday, as he wrote that he would treat “those misbehaving today” in “the language they understand.” The statement appeared to be a violent threat against potential insurgent movements which Twitter believed is against its policy on “abusive behavior.”

In a report by CNN, Nigerian residents who will continue to use Twitter through virtual private networks (VPNs) would be charged.

Responding to the ban, Twitter said that it was “deeply concerned,” as it vowed to “restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter.”

The conflict came amid Twitter’s recent announcement that it will launch its first African office in Ghana.

Amnesty International called out the Nigerian government for proceeding with the ban, urging the latter to “reverse the unlawful suspension and other plans to gag the media, repress the civic space, and undermine Nigerians’ human rights.”

The president’s tweet read: “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”

In recent months, the Nigerian government alleged that secessionist groups assaulted government buildings and law enforcement authorities.

Source: New York Post