Amnesty International Nigeria said there is an increasing clampdown on social media commentary on the ongoing war in the Middle East by the Department Of State Services (DSS).

The human rights group stated this in a Thursday statement posted on its verified Facebook page.

According to Amnesty, at least two persons — both resident in Kaduna — have been detained and one of them is about to be subjected to a sham trial based on bogus charges.

“We have also received reports of critics of America and Israel being ‘invited’ by the DSS,” the statement reads in part.

The group expressed deep concern over the DSS’s action, which it described as “reckless”.

It said these “targeted acts of repression undermine trust in the neutrality of state institutions and create a toxic climate of fear”.

Amnesty maintained that criticising any country’s policies or its leaders isn’t violence.

It further argued that opposition to a government’s policies is not hatred towards a country or its people.

The statement further reads, “Equating criticism of policies of the governments of America and Israel with incitement is a dangerous distortion and sends a chilling message that peaceful dissent, including that related to America and Israel, are not tolerated in Nigeria.

“The bizarre targeting of critics of America and Israel is being done without any legal justification, as recognised under international human rights law.

“The Nigerian authorities must refrain from violating human rights online, including the right to freedom of expression and fulfil their constitutional and international human rights obligations.” (The Sun)