Mohammed's comments came after meeting with Facebook's team
in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. He said Facebook had done nothing to curtail the
activities of separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on their
platform despite several complaints.
Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB's leader, is standing trial on charges
that include terrorism and broadcasting falsehoods. A judge will decide on
Wednesday on whether Kanu should be granted bail.
Mohammed said the separatist group has been classified as a
terrorist organisation and that "Facebook has no justification for
yielding its platform to the organisation to further its campaign of hate and
destabilisation of the country".
Nigeria is facing secessionist agitation which has given
rise to regional calls for power-sharing between southern and northern Nigeria.
The country is also dealing with insecurity, banditry,
kidnapping, a weak currency amid double-digit inflation and slow growth.
Mohammed said the Facebook meeting was called to discuss the
increasing use of the social media platform by separatists based outside
Nigeria to instigate violence and ethnic hatred in the country in English and
local language.
He said the government has no intention of preventing
Nigerians from using social media but is advocating responsible use.
Nigeria lifted a six-months ban on Twitter in January after
the social media company removed a post from President Muhammadu Buhari that
threatened to punish regional secessionists. Telecoms companies subsequently
blocked access to users in Nigeria. © Reuters
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