The Department of State Services (DSS) has given activist and Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore a strict deadline of one week to withdraw a social media post it labeled as “false, inflammatory, and defamatory” concerning President Bola Tinubu.
In an official letter dated September 7, 2025, the DSS accused Sowore of making “criminal and disparaging” statements about the President in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on August 26, 2025.
The agency cautioned that failure to meet this demand would compel it to “pursue all legal avenues” to safeguard national security and maintain public order.
Sowore, known for his pro-democracy activism and former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), had labeled Tinubu a “criminal” in the post, criticizing the President’s claim made in Brazil that corruption had been eradicated under his administration.
According to Uwem Davies, the DSS Director of Legal Services, Sowore’s comments have provoked public outrage and possess the potential to “trigger unrest, division, and even rebellion.”
“The language you used to describe the President is not only false and malicious but also likely to incite public disorder, disunity, and a breakdown of law and order,” the DSS stated in its correspondence addressed to Sowore.
“Such statements are, at best, capable of inciting insurrection as they are offensive, objectionable, and disrespectful towards the highest office in the land,” the agency added.
The DSS demanded that Sowore immediately retract the post on the same platform, ensuring it receives equal visibility as the original message.
Additionally, he was instructed to issue a public apology through at least two widely circulated national newspapers and two television stations with nationwide reach.
The letter further required Sowore to submit a formal response to the DSS headquarters located at No. 1 Maitama Avenue, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, or via the agency’s official email addresses within seven days of receiving the notice.
“You are to promptly and unequivocally retract the false and offensive post on the same platform with the same prominence as the original; publish a public apology in no fewer than two national dailies and two television stations with national coverage; and provide your formal representation within one week of receipt of this letter,” the letter specified.
Notably, the DSS copied the United States Embassy in Abuja on the letter, indicating that the issue has attracted diplomatic attention, especially considering Sowore’s dual residency in Nigeria and the U.S.
The agency reminded Sowore, who has been a vocal critic of successive Nigerian administrations, that those aspiring to play significant roles in the nation’s democratic process must demonstrate restraint and responsibility in both their words and actions.
“Individuals of your stature, who seek to lead this country as key democratic stakeholders, must uphold high standards of integrity and exercise caution and accountability in their speech and conduct,” the DSS emphasized.
“Such persons and organizations should focus their discourse on fostering peace, security, and effective governance within the country,” the statement continued.
The DSS reiterated its constitutional role in protecting Nigerians from misleading information and warned that it would not hesitate to act decisively if Sowore refuses to comply.
“As a security intelligence agency, the DSS is mandated, among other responsibilities, to prevent Nigerians from being misled by false narratives,” the letter concluded.
“Should you fail to amend this misleading narrative, the Service will, without further notice, take appropriate actions within the framework of Nigerian law,” it warned.
