FG Alleges Facebook Refuses To Fight IPOB
Federal Government has asked Facebook and other social media platforms to stop permitting the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group on their platforms.
Speaking yesterday at a meeting with a team from Facebook in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said since IPOB had been proscribed and classified as a terrorist organisation by the government, Facebook has no justification for yielding its platform to the organisation. DAILY NIGERIAN reports.
See Other Top News:
- JUST IN: FG Amends Charges Against Nnamdi Kanu In View Of Bail Application Hearing
- Boko Haram: Sarki, Others Killed In Gun Battle With Troops In Sambisa
- How FG Will Fight Aviation Fuel Crisis – Minister
- Kidnapped Radio Producer Regains Freedom
In his words: “I have called this meeting to enable us to discuss the increasing use of Facebook by separatists and anarchists, especially those of them based outside the country, to instigate violence and ethnic hatred in Nigeria,” Mr Mohammed said. Information Guide Nigeria
“For whatever reason, they seem to have now chosen Facebook as their platform of choice. And their tools include disinformation, incendiary statements, and hate speech. They use Facebook broadcasts to reach their followers, who are in the thousands. They tag those opposed to their violent ways as ‘saboteurs’ who must be attacked, maimed, and killed.
“They use both English and their local language as it suits them,” he said.
”By purveying hate and inciting violence, people are getting killed while the private and public property is being attacked and destroyed. Security agencies and other symbols of government are their choice targets,” he said. jamb results
“Our social media people have been monitoring these separatists, anarchists, and purveyors of hate, and have been reporting their atrocious actions to Facebook, but all they get are default responses that their complaints have been received and are being looked into,” he said.
“Most often than not, nothing is done about such complaints. The truth is that whatever Facebook is doing to check these people is mere tokenism and is totally ineffective.”
“We have always advocated responsible use of social media, and consistently called on all stakeholders to join us in achieving this. Some have tagged our efforts as an attempt to stifle social media,” he said.
“They are wrong because we have no intention of preventing Nigerians from using social media responsibly. All we have been advocating is a responsible use of social media,” he said.
