Hate Speech To Be Treated As Terrorism - Osinbajo

According to the acting president, such hate speeches will be categorised under the law as acts of terrorism.

He noted that the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 (as amended) defines terrorism as an act deliberately done with malice which may seriously harm or damage a country or seriously intimidate a population.

In his words: “The federal government has today drawn the line on hate speech. Hate speech is a specie of terrorism. Terrorism as it is defined popularly is the unlawful use of violence or intimidation against individuals or groups especially for political ends.

“As I have said, we’ve drawn a line against hate speech, it will not be tolerated, it will be taken as an act of terrorism and all of the consequences will follow it”.

The acting president called on all business, religious and political leaders, irrespective of their political or religious leaning, tribe or faith to condemn in the strongest possible terms at all times, hate speech.

Lending his voice, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen stressed the need to tackle the menace of insecurity, corruption and impunity, saying they are three sides of the same coin which ought to be “taken together holistically” if the country must move forward.

He said, “I want us to think about that and to carry this through. We need the support of Nigerians, particularly the Nigerian on the street who feels deprived one way or the other, rightly or wrongly. It could be imaginary but it is that he ought to be attended where he is pointing out. Where his problems are coming from may not necessarily be the source of his problem.

“But it is necessary for us to look in that direction in case he is right. If we have security, justice, then many of these agitations will equally die down”.