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According to the list, many of the affected persons were accused of cyberstalking, publishing "false information," or making critical statements about public officials online.
The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement, a civic advocacy group, has released a list of 19 Nigerians who have been targeted, hunted, and detained by the Nigerian government under the controversial Cybercrime Act, 2024.
The list, released by the organisation on Tuesday alongside a report of its April 7, 2025 nationwide protest, spans from 2017 to 2025 and includes journalists, activists, and social media influencers.
According to the list, many of the affected persons were accused of cyberstalking, publishing "false information," or making critical statements about public officials online.
The organisation stated that the Cybercrime Act of 2024, initially designed to curb internet fraud and protect digital integrity, is increasingly being used by the Nigerian government to silence dissent and punish free expression.
The list includes Agba Jalingo, a journalist who was detained for 174 days in 2019 for publishing a report alleging financial misappropriation by the Cross River State government under the leadership of former Governor Ben Ayade.
Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist, convener of #RevolutionNow Movement and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), who has suffered multiple arrests and who has been detained at several occasions for over 150 days since 2019.
Sowore, who was initially detained over the #RevolutionNow protests, has also been accused by the Nigerian government, of posting seditious content online.
Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who was hunted, arrested and detained for 10 days in 2024 for his story on alleged corruption involving a former minister.
Olumide Ogunsanwo, popularly known as Seaking, who has been detained multiple times, with initial detention lasting 17 days after he was arrested on December 20, 2024. He was released on January 6, 2025, and rearrested in 2025.
Seaking was accused of cyberstalking and inciting violence against police and insulting Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in TikTok videos.
Isaac Bristol, popularly known as PIDOM, who was detained for 60 days in 2024 for allegedly leaking classified documents online.
Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, who was arrested in Lagos and transported to Ekiti state where he was detained for 18 days.
Farotimi was accused of claiming online that Afe Babalola (SAN) had corrupted the Nigerian judiciary.
Female human rights activist, Olamide Thomas, who was hunted and arrested in her Lagos residence and transported to Abuja where she was detained for 24 days, over a viral video in which the Nigeria Police Force accused her of insulting President Bola Tinubu’s son and police officers.
Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who was arrested and detained for 14 days over alleged cyberstalking through critical social media posts.
Emperor Gabriel Ogbonna, who was arrested and detained for 141 days in 2020 for a Facebook post in which he was accused of alleging a traditional oath-taking ritual by the then Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpazu.
Chinonso Uba, who was arrested and detained for 10 days in 2024 for criticizing police actions online.
Others are Funke Olakunrin, who was detained for four days in 2024 for allegedly cyberstalking a local leader online; Blessing Agbomhere, who was detained for five days in 2024 for posting content critical of a political figure, and Kufre Carter, who was detained for 60 days in 2020 after he was accused of criticising a state governor on social media.
Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, arrested and detained for 25 days in 2020 for making online posts critical of the Imo State government under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodinma; Aliyu Musa, who was detained for five days in 2024 after he was accused of posting a TikTok video criticizing the police.
Saint Mienpamo Onitsha, who was detained for 30 days in 2020 after he was accused of reporting online about a COVID-19 isolation centre collapse; Chidiebere Onyegbuchule, detained for 14 days in 2020 over alleged cyberstalking of a public figure online.
Rotimi Jolayemi, who was arrested and detained for 43 days in 2020 after he was accused of recitingn a poem online that criticized the then Minister of Information, and Oliver Fejiro, who was detained for 56 days in 2017 for publishing investigative reports deemed defamatory.
The TIB Movement noted, “The Cybercrime Act of 2024 was introduced to address the growing concerns over cyber threats and crimes in Nigeria. However, … the Act has been weaponized to stifle free speech and target critics of the government.”
The TIB Movement vowed that it must continue to put pressure on “the callous Nigerian legislative arm and entire government to initiate a public hearing process and assess the Act’s controversial provisions, particularly those affecting freedom of expression and press freedom.”
As calls grow for reform or repeal of the Cybercrime Act, this new list is expected to intensify public debate around digital rights, press freedom, and the protection of civil liberties in Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
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