SAN FRANCISCO, January 25, (THEWILL) – Nigeria has vowed to crackdown on hate speech particularly, on social media and will target influential persons who propagate them.
Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali directed security agencies to tackle those propagating hate speeches.
A government statement sent to the media Thursday said Dan-Ali gave the directive at a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
“The Honourable Minister expressed the need by the relevant security agencies to as a matter of urgency tackle the propagation of hate speeches especially through the social media particularly by some notable Nigerians,” the statement read.
The minister was also quoted as saying that the Armed Forces is currently synergising with other security agencies through intelligence sharing and joint operations to address the various security challenges facing the country.
In compliance with the presidential directive for the establishment of National Commission on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the country, Dan-Ali said the ministry, in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser, has set up a committee to work out modalities to transform the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons to a national commission.
He also informed the council that in line with the decision of the present government to increase the strength of the Armed Forces to address manpower problem, the three services have in the last two years enlisted and recruited qualified Nigerians.
Some of the top officials at the meeting were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar; and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
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