Following the breaking news that the DSS apprehended a man in Rivers State, Innocent Chukwuma, for using his X account to call for a military overthrow of the Nigerian government, one user reacted by saying, “This shows that Nigerian government is a terrorist group who thrive in corruption and all ill manners of things going on in Nigeria.”
While the user’s frustration about insecurity and corruption in the country may be understandable, this statement is an unfair and misleading generalization. Comparing the government to a terrorist group disregards the distinction between inefficiency and terrorism. The DSS acted within its mandate to arrest someone openly calling for treason, which is a constitutional offence. The real issue lies in demanding better security and intelligence systems — not labeling the entire government as terrorists. Criticism should be constructive, not inflammatory, if we truly seek progress and accountability.
