The Nigeria Police Force has condemned the act of raining direct curses on individuals online, emphasizing that such behavior constitutes cyberbullying and is a punishable offence. This declaration was made by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a post on Friday.
Adejobi stated that targeting someone with harsh and abusive language online goes beyond the realm of freedom of expression or criticism. He wrote, “Raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not expression of freedom or criticism. And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided.”
The police spokesperson’s post sparked a heated debate on social media, with some users questioning the legality of declaring online harassment a punishable offence. Felix Abayomi, tweeting as #felabayomi, wrote, “When does raining curses become a crime? I look forward to the day someone will challenge these laws.”
Another user, tweeting anonymously as #kingkhone4real, replied, “If that were the case, then all Nigerians should have been in prison by now.” However, #omoopee_ supported Adejobi’s stance, saying, “You are absolutely right, sir; raining curses and engaging in cyberbullying is not freedom of expression but an act of harm. We must all learn to express ourselves responsibly.”
Adejobi’s warning serves as a reminder that online harassment and cyberbullying can have serious consequences, and individuals should be mindful of their online behavior. The Nigeria Police Force has demonstrated its commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting citizens’ rights online.
