The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has sparked discussions online after labelling online curses and cyberbullying as criminal offences while addressing a heated exchange on Twitter.
In a post shared Friday morning, Adejobi warned that “raining direct curses on someone online is cyber bullying, not expression of freedom or criticism. And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided.”
The statement followed a confrontation with a Twitter user who directed abusive language and curses at the police officer.
The user, reacting to the ongoing detention of Mrs Olamide—a Lagos resident arrested on December 13, 2024, over a Facebook post exposing alleged fraud at a police station—lashed out, saying, “It is for that very justification that Ogun will smite you & all your loved ones.
“It is for that reason dth will take a permanent refuge amongst your family and you. It is for that reason dth will remind you that you aren’t god. D**th will show you what funny is #FreeOlamide.”
Mrs Olamide’s detention has sparked public outcry, with many Nigerians taking to social media to demand her release.
The controversy began when Olamide alleged corruption within the police force in a now-viral Facebook post.
Her arrest has been widely criticized by activists and rights groups, who argue it violates her right to free speech.
Adejobi’s response to the insults has added a new layer to the debate on cyberbullying and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
While some users supported the PRO’s stance, others accused him of leveraging the law to stifle dissent and shield the police from criticism.
As the conversation around cyberbullying, police accountability, and free speech unfolds, the detention of Mrs Olamide continues to draw attention, with calls for her immediate release growing louder.
