The police will start clamping down on Nigerians who rain curses on government officials and others on social media platforms, threatening to prosecute and jail them.

The Force Headquarters issued the warning on Friday prohibiting Nigerians from accursing officials.

Chief police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on X on Friday, said, “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.”

Recently, a senior lawyer, Afe Babalola, was fingered as the powerful Nigerian who instigated the arrest, brutalisation and detention of human rights activist Dele Farotimi by the police over a defamation allegation on December 4.

Mr Babalola asked the Nigerian police to arrest Mr Farotimi and transport him to Ekiti by road on a 334-kilometre trip that lasted more than five hours.  

This comes more than a year after the senior lawyer donated millions of British pounds to advance human rights and education for African students at King’s College, London.

Mr Babalola is a prominent figure in Ekiti, where he wields significant influence. He owns a university in the state capital, has thousands of employees and has been honoured by the state government, with October 19 designated Afe Babalola Day.