The Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a Rivers State resident, Innocent Chukwuma, for allegedly using social media to advocate a military overthrow of the Nigerian government.
Chukwuma was arrested in the Oyigbo area of Port Harcourt after posting on X (formerly Twitter): “The bastard in Aso Rock has basically sold this country to the West, and they run our intelligence apparatus. Only the military can reset this country.
Support them.”The message also referenced the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) the junta-led defence pact of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—which withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year amid tensions with Nigeria over demands for civilian rule restoration.
DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya confirmed the arrest, stating it stemmed from routine monitoring of online threats to national security.
“The suspect’s actions constitute a direct assault on Nigeria’s constitutional order and violate provisions of the Cybercrimes Act,” he said.
Chukwuma’s X account has been suspended, and investigators are probing potential links to organized groups promoting anti-democratic agendas.
The arrest follows heightened public anxiety sparked by unverified reports of a coup plot involving senior military officers.
Earlier this month, President Bola Tinubu reshuffled key security positions, including the National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, and Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service.
The Nigerian Army dismissed the coup rumors as baseless, insisting the officers in question were facing routine disciplinary proceedings.
Nigeria has endured several military coups since independence, with the last in 1993 under General Sani Abacha.
The country returned to democracy in 1999 and has since upheld civilian rule despite ongoing economic hardship and insecurity.
Pro-junta rhetoric has surged across West Africa following recent takeovers in the Sahel. Nigerian authorities have repeatedly cautioned against spreading such content, warning it risks inciting unrest.
The DSS reaffirmed its commitment to neutralizing threats to national stability and urged citizens to use social media responsibly. “Messages that endanger public peace will not be tolerated,” Afunanya added.
Chukwuma remains in custody as investigations continue amid Nigeria’s persistent challenges, including inflation exceeding 30 percent, widespread unemployment, and regional insecurity.
The government maintains that ongoing reforms will restore economic stability and public trust.
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