Perpetrators of hate speech will be arrested and
charged under the Terrorism Prevention Act, Ibrahim
Idris, the inspector-general of police, has said.
Yemi Osinbajo, vice president, had recently announced
that hate speech will be treated as an act of terrorism.
He had said: “The federal government has today
drawn the line on hate speech. Hate speech is a specie
of terrorism.
“The Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 as amended
defines terrorism as an act which deliberately done
with malice which may seriously harm a country or is
intended or can be reasonably be regarded as having
been done to seriously intimidate a population.”
According to Moshood Jimoh, police spokesman, the
IGP, in response to the announcement, has directed
assistant inspectors general of police and
commissioners to ensure that anybody found guilty of
hate speech is “promptly arrested and prosecuted”.
Jimoh told The Nation that: “Dealing with various
aspects of the issue of hate speech dissemination on
social media is essentially the responsibility of the
Nigeria Police Force.
“This is because such an act is criminal in nature and
the police has jurisdiction over criminal matters. The
IGP has put in place an action plan towards dealing
with this effectively.
“The aim of the police force is to ensure that anybody
who engages in the use or dissemination of hate
speeches is arrested and prosecuted.
“It does not matter whether they disseminate it
through social media or through the conventional
mass media like radio, television or any other media.
They are culpable of an offence and they will be
prosecuted.
“No organisation or individual is exempted. Anyone
who infringes the law should be prepared for arrest or
other consequences.”
According to the Terrorism Prevention Act, terror-
related offences attracts up to 20 years
imprisonement.
TheCable
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