The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has stirred online debates with his recent statement condemning the act of raining curses on individuals online, labeling it as cyberbullying and a punishable offence.
Taking to X.com, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Adejobi declared that directly cursing someone online isn’t an exercise of free speech or criticism but a form of cyberbullying. He insisted that such acts go beyond acceptable behavior and are considered criminal under the law. “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,” he wrote.
The post didn’t sit well with everyone. Felix Abayomi, tweeting as #felabayomi, fired back, “When does raining curses become a crime? I look forward to the day someone will challenge these laws.” He stated the sentiments of many Nigerians who see Adejobi’s warning as a stretch, given the daily online exchanges in a country where frustration and anger are normal. Another user, #kingkhone4real, sarcastically quipped, “If that were the case, then all Nigerians should have been in prison by now.”
However, not everyone disagreed with Adejobi. A user with the handle #omoopee_ stood firmly in support, stating, “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.
The bigger question is whether Adejobi’s warning is enforceable in a country like Nigeria, where cyberbullying laws are still evolving, and where internet users often hide behind anonymity to hurl insults and curses. How practical is it to police the millions of online interactions every day?
Nigerians argue that the police should focus on tackling more pressing issues like online scams, misinformation, and identity theft rather than worrying about curses that are, for the most part, expressions of personal anger. Others point out the irony of a law enforcement officer discussing decorum on social media when Nigerians frequently accuse the police themselves of unprofessional conduct online and offline.
Perhaps instead of threatening punishment, the focus should be on public education about responsible online behaviour. After all, while the law can punish, it rarely changes hearts or habits.
