Twitter has been banned in Nigeria after it deleted a post by the country’s president — and the government announced the decision on Twitter.
Twitter has been “suspended indefinitely” in the country, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Information and Culture wrote in a Friday Twitter thread, citing “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
The ban comes after Twitter deleted a Tuesday post by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in which he said he would treat “those misbehaving today” in “the language they understand” — interpreted as a threat of violence against a secessionist movement in the country. Twitter said the tweet violated its “abusive behavior” policy.
Residents of Africa’s most populous country who try to use virtual private networks — or VPNs — to get around the ban will be prosecuted, CNN reported.
In response, Twitter said that it was “deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria” and pledged to “restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter.”
Nigeria’s decision to ban Twitter comes just two months after the company said in April that it would open its first Africa office in Ghana. AP
The spat comes
