The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a man, Innocent Chukwuma, in Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for allegedly using social media to call for a military takeover of the Nigerian government.
Chukwuma reportedly posted messages on his X account urging the military to suspend the government and remove the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). One of his posts read, “The bastard in Aso Rock has basically sold this country to the West, and they run our intelligence apparatus. Only the military can reset this country. Support them.”
The DSS said the arrest followed intelligence monitoring of online activities considered threats to national security. The agency noted that Chukwuma’s actions violated Nigeria’s constitutional order and could lead to charges under the Cybercrimes Act.
The posts referenced the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a defense pact between military regimes in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, which withdrew from ECOWAS after rejecting calls for a return to civilian rule.
Security sources say investigations are ongoing to determine if Chukwuma has links with organized groups. His social media accounts have been suspended since his arrest.
The incident comes amid increasing tensions following unverified reports of an alleged coup plot involving some senior military officers, with around 20 officers reportedly detained in connection with the plot.
The DSS continues to monitor and investigate activities that threaten Nigeria's democratic order and security.