The Nigerian Government has sworn to prosecute anyone found breaching a ban on the social media firm Twitter implemented indefinitely on Friday.
Mobile phone networks in the country blocked access to the popular microblogging site after the orders, but some users are using VPNs to get around it.
The move came two days after the microblogging site removed a post from Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari in which he threatened to punish regional secessionists claiming it was against their rules.
The Nigerian government says the removal of the tweet was “disappointing”, but not the reason for the “temporary” suspension.
“There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real-world violent consequences,” the government said.
Twitter on the other hand said the ban was “deeply concerning”.
The move has also attracted widespread condemnation from human rights groups and international powers, who say it will limit free speech in Nigeria.
