Senate warns against use of Nigeria’s cyber space for provocative videos

The Senate on Tuesday warned against the use of Nigeria’s cyber space in posting videos and pictures that could trigger religious and ethnic crisis in the country.

The warning followed a Point of Order raised by the Chairman, Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Dino Melaye, at plenary.

Melaye, who raised Order 43, was reacting to photographs of killings from other countries, allegedly posted on the social media, purported that they took place in Southern Kaduna.

He said that there were “many videos and pictures from a myopic angle which preachers of both faith, Muslims and Christians, have been reacting to.

“This ugly development is a recipe for religious crisis and war and I feel it is necessary for the Senate to pass a note of warning to those using our cyber space to post dangerous pictures.’’

He said that those posting such videos and pictures were achieving their aims because they had succeeded in setting religious leaders against themselves.

The lawmaker added that the preachers, without carrying out adequate research had resorted to hate speeches that could trigger war in the country.

He cautioned that if not curtailed on time, the situation could lead to crisis that would further deepen the negative effect of recession on Nigerians.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, commended Melaye for drawing the attention of the senate to the looming crisis being instigated by dubious use of the social media.

He said that though the lawmakers could not debate on the matter because it was a point of order and not a motion, the enormity of the observation demanded that the senate issued a warning.

“My appeal on behalf of my colleagues is for us all to be tolerant and refrain from such act.

“We only have one country and let’s remember that countries like Rwanda have not recovered from years of war.

“We will not tolerate the use of internet to engender crisis,’’ he said.

Saraki urged relevant agencies to fish out those posting nonexistent and inciting videos and pictures about Nigeria on the social media, saying “if we allow this to continue, it will lead to crisis that we cannot contain’’.