Twitter suspends accounts of top Nigerian influencers

 

Twitter has suspended the accounts of several top Nigerian influencers for allegedly “violating its rules.”

The accounts suspended include that of Adegoke Pamilerin, a social media influencer and PR specialist, who has over 488,000 followers.

 

Other affected influencers include Danny Walter, Tife, Volqx, Lamar, Uncle Mohamz, Valhalla, Four-eyed Edo Boy, Mbah and Bisi.

Including @JustKelechi @Yucee_ @Divineze @ogaKnowledge. All Suspended

— Chudy (@OdogwuAchina) April 5, 2021

When the accounts were checked  on Tuesday, only a blank page appeared with a terse note stating: “Account suspended. Twitter suspends accounts which violate the Twitter rules.”

While it remains unclear which rules were violated, the social media giant had defined violation to include actions such as “violence, harassment and other similar types of behavior that discourage people from expressing themselves, and ultimately diminish the value of global public conversation.”

Some users — citing unverified reports — however linked the suspension to the influencers’ involvement in a “coordinated Twitter manipulation campaign.”

Tolu Ogunlesi, special assistant on digital/new media to President Muhammadu Buhari, said the sanction might not be unconnected to a campaign linked to a “wanted man.”

 “Twitter has just suspended a number of high-profile Nigerian ‘influencer’ accounts. No reasons given. It appears (yes, consider this speculative) that these accounts were involved in a coordinated Twitter manipulation campaign linked to a wanted man,” he wrote.

  

Twitter has just suspended a number of high-profile Nigerian ‘influencer’ accounts. No reasons given. It appears (yes, consider this speculative) that these accounts were involved in a coordinated Twitter manipulation campaign linked to a wanted man. pic.twitter.com/t6L02jerIC

— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) April 6, 2021

From the FT: https://t.co/hvZr1n0ZrK

— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) April 6, 2021

Other users also linked the suspension to the influencers’ backing of a campaign for Alex Saab, a special envoy of Venezuela, who was detained by authorities in Cape Verde — despite a court order.

The envoy was arrested on June 12, 2020, after his private jet made a stopover in Cape Verde on his way to Iran for a humanitarian mission on behalf of the Venezuelan government.

The US was said to have put pressure on Cape Verde to arrest Saab — with plans of extraditing him to face corruption charges.

The above claims cannot be independently verified as efforts to reach Pamilerin and other affected influencers did not materialise — as of the time of this report.

The development has however begun to trigger mixed reactions on the microblogging platform.

Here’s what some had to say:

  

If these influencers could allegedly collect some dollar to trend the release of Alex Saab, then be aware that they'll support someone who's worse than buhari come 2023 if they're given some money too.

More reason why I don't rate these influencers.

— Mike (@Elevatedmike) April 6, 2021

Na Alex Saab and Venezuelan govt dey play game
Na Nigerian influencers dey chop suspension
😴

Pamilerin | Jack

— Damola_shotit - fine ass photographer📷 (@Festus_Damola) April 6, 2021

Nigeria influencers are just bunch of hungry hyenas same reason they sold Buhari to gullible Nigerians.....Alex Saab

— King kèlvin II (@OkwueshineK) April 6, 2021

They have all been suspended.

I always say our Nigerian influencers can do PR jobs for even the devil.

Alex Saab was/is the devil. They didn't do research on him. https://t.co/LIgcfZDid5

— Morris Monye💙 (@Morris_Monye) April 6, 2021

Yesterday night, some Nigerian twitter influencer accounts suffered sudden suspension by Jack.

Mbah, Bisi, Danny walter, Tife, Volqx, Lamar, Uncle Mohamz, Pamilerin, Valhalla, Four eyed Edo Boy, Biyi and many others.

This is sad to hear.
Please follow them when they get back.

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺🇳🇬🇬🇧💎 (@DrOlufunmilayo) April 6, 2021

Jack suspended most of your favorite Nigerian influencers. Unknowingly to those influencers, Alex Saab is the villain of the story.

It is not every job you must take, not every hashtag you must trend. Sometimes ask questions. A little research would save you from suspension.

— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) April 6, 2021

Nigeria influencers are just bunch of hungry hyenas same reason they sold Buhari to gullible Nigerians.....Alex Saab

— King kèlvin II (@OkwueshineK) April 6, 2021

After this Alex Saab matter, it is clear now that most Nigerian influencers will do anything for the right amount. Anything.

— Samuel Mbah (@Mbahdeyf0ryou) April 6, 2021

Jack has suspended Nigerian twitter influencers like Danny Walter, Pamilerin, Four eyed Edit boy, Biisi, Tife, Volqx, Lamarr and lots more.

For allegedly promoting a certain Alex Sa*b campaign... pic.twitter.com/3OpUjv4GME

— Afrokonnect (@AfrokonnectNG) April 6, 2021

All suspended did one Alex Saab campaign, including people that Retweeted were suspended.

So all influencers should be mindful of the kind of campaigns they run.

I hope these guys recover fast
❤️ 💡

— TAILORBOI✂️ (@TAILORBOI_) April 6, 2021

Jack, if it’s because of Alex Saab you’re suspending people, maybe you should check again because Alex did not tweet about anything relating to it. He did not tweet anything on that issue.

Every year now, na to dey suspend, later you’ll open his account and apologize for it.

— Favour💓❤️ (@__Faves) April 6, 2021

If Buhari can still have people defending him everyday on this App and none of them has been suspended, I wonder why Jack is suspending accounts for supporting Alex Saab.

Buhari is far worst than Alex Saab in ten fold.

Massacre, kidnapping & corruption are Buhari watchword.

— Olusegun #EndImpunity (@theboyisgreat) April 6, 2021