Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS), also known as the Department of State Services (DSS), is facing intense scrutiny and public backlash after a letter, purportedly from the agency, surfaced on social media. The letter, addressed to Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), demands the immediate deactivation of activist Omoyele Sowore’s account, citing “misleading information” and “cyber crime.”

The letter, dated September 7, 2025, and bearing the SSS letterhead, accuses Sowore of disseminating “inflammatory online publication against Mr. President,” referring to a tweet critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The SSS claims Sowore’s tweet, which allegedly “disparages and ridicules the President,” constitutes a “serious threat to national security.”

Taste the Goodness: EL Blends All-Natural Cold-Pressed Juices

Sowore’s Response

In a series of posts on his X account, Omoyele Sowore, a prominent human rights activist and former presidential candidate, described the move as a desperate act by a “drowning Tinubu regime.” He stated, “This morning, I learned that the lawless @officialdssng wrote to X (formerly Twitter) demanding my account be deactivated within 24 hours simply for criticizing @officialasiwajubat and his corrupt, non-performing governors.”

Sowore also highlighted what he considers a pattern of harassment, listing past incidents such as illegal arrests, passport seizure, armed attacks, and “fake charges of terrorism financing.” He added, “Now they’ve exported their disgrace to the US. But like under the Buhari regime, these tactics will fall flat.”

Legal and Public Reaction

The SSS’s attempt to censor a critic on a global platform has ignited a firestorm of debate online. Legal experts and civil society organizations are questioning the SSS’s legal authority to demand the deactivation of a social media account, particularly on a platform based outside of Nigeria’s jurisdiction. Critics argue that such a move is a blatant attack on freedom of speech and expression, a right enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

The incident is seen by many as a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to control online dissent. It raises concerns about the shrinking space for free expression in Nigeria and the government’s increasing use of state security apparatus to silence opposition voices.

As of Sunday, the X platform has not publicly responded to the SSS’s letter. The outcome of this dispute remains to be seen, but it has already placed the Nigerian government and its security agencies at the center of a global conversation about censorship, free speech, and the rule of law.