Police Arrest Tiktoker, Seaking For Insulting President Tinubu, Sanwoolu, IGP

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have reportedly arrested a popular Nigerian TikToker, Seaking, for criticizing President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Seaking was arrested on Saturday shortly after he made a video where he criticized President Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, and Egbetokun.

The TikToker had made a video where he referenced a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, who described insulting people online as a criminal offence.

SaharaReporters had reported that Adejobi said that hurling insults at someone online is not merely a form of criticism or freedom of expression, but rather an act of cyberbullying, which it described as a criminal offence.

The Force spokesperson said this in the wake of a recent case involving a viral post by activist Olamide Abiodun Thomas.

Thomas, who was protesting the police’s use of tear gas during the fourth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests in Abuja, recorded a video following which she was accused of insulting the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, as well as Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi.

Reacting to Adejobi’s statement, Seaking made a video where he expressed outrage at the statement, questioning why the police would prioritize cracking down on critics instead of pursuing criminals.

In a video making the rounds on social media, Seaking was shown being questioned by some security officers at a yet-to-be-identified location.