The Nigerian government announced it has "indefinitely suspended" Twitter's operations in the country, according to the statement by Ministry of Information and Culture, reported the CNN. The suspension comes days after Twitter deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari that was widely perceived as offensive.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Nigerian leader threatened to deal with people in the country's southeast, who he blames for the recurring attacks on public infrastructure in the region. "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," Buhari wrote in the now-deleted tweet, referring to the brutal two-year Nigeria-Biafra war, which killed an estimated one to three million people, in the eastern part of the country between 1967-1970.
The tweet was deleted Wednesday after many Nigerians flagged it to Twitter. In response, the Nigerian government suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, on Friday.
The statement, which was posted on the concerned ministry's official Twitter handle accused the American social media company of allowing its platform to be used "for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence."
Earlier on Tuesday, the Nigerian leader threatened to deal with people in the country's southeast, who he blames for the recurring attacks on public infrastructure in the region. "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," Buhari wrote in the now-deleted tweet, referring to the brutal two-year Nigeria-Biafra war, which killed an estimated one to three million people, in the eastern part of the country between 1967-1970.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 30: (AFP OUT) Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on April 30, 2018 in Washington, DC. The two leaders are scheduled to discuss a range of bilateral issues and hold a joint press conference later in the day. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)
The tweet was deleted Wednesday after many Nigerians flagged it to Twitter. In response, the Nigerian government suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, on Friday.
The statement, which was posted on the concerned ministry's official Twitter handle accused the American social media company of allowing its platform to be used "for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence."