Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force‘s Public Relations Officer, has stated that cursing people directly online is a crime that is punishable by law.
Such an act, in Adejobi’s opinion, is cyberbullying that transcends the right to free speech or criticism.
“Directly cursing someone online is cyberbullying, not a form of criticism or freedom. Additionally, it is illegal and penalised to engage in cyberbullying, which is even more distinct than defamation. Take direction,” he said.
“When does raining curses become a crime?” Felix Abayomi, under the handle #felabayomi, tweeted in response to Adejobi’s post on X. I’m excited for the day when these laws are contested.
Another person responded, using the handle #kingkhone4real and tweeting anonymously, “If that were the case, then all Nigerians should have been in prison by now.”
But #omoopee_ backed Adejobi’s position, stating, “You are right, sir; engaging in cyberbullying and hurling curses is not freedom of expression but an act of harm.”We must all learn how to responsibly express ourselves.