A man who live-tweeted from the scene of an attempted jailbreak in the Nigerian capital Abuja 12 days ago, has disappeared. Activists believe he may have been arrested, and have launched a Twitter campaign for his release.
The hashtag #FreeCiaxon and the Twitter handle @ciaxon have been trending in Nigeria since late on Wednesday. There's also a lot of discussion about it on Facebook. On 30 March, the man who runs the @ciaxon account found himself at the scene of a dramatic fight between Nigerian security forces and detainees trying to escape from the State Security Service (SSS) headquarters.It was big news in Nigeria. The SSS HQ is a stone's throw from the presidential palace, and the detainees were - according to officials - suspected militants from the notorious group, Boko Haram. Official sources say more than 20 people were killed.
Much of the news came from social media sources at the scene - like @ciaxon. It's believed Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi - also referred to as Isiaka Yusuf - runs @ciaxon. He tweeted developments, including a series of images showing both the attackers and Nigerian soldiers. The pictures were picked up by news outlets in the country. But since then, there has been complete silence on Twitter from @ciaxon. And the silence has not been just virtual. Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi's brother Sanusi told BBC Trending that he has not been able to reach him since that day. His car has been left abandoned. "Nobody has given us any information. We are in the darkness. It's inhuman, it's very, very unfair," he says. When a friend contacted Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi's workplace to ask where he was, he was told he had been arrested.
The SSS has not responded to confirm or deny Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi's detention. But Nigerians have taken to social media to demand answers. "How can you arrest people for taking pictures - this is the 21st Century," says Fola Lawal, a Nigerian now based in Qatar, who started the Twitter hashtag #FreeCiaxon. "I would have done the same in his shoes. It's called citizen reporting."
Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission has started an investigation into his whereabouts. High-profile figures, including the World Bank's former Africa vice-president Obiageli Ezekwesili, have tweeted calling for his release. "It's very, very important this gets attention," says lawyer and writer Ayo Sogunro, who's been researching and tweeting actively about the case. Critics say the government is trying to regulate social media. The irony in this case, says Sogunro, is the tweets from the @ciaxon account were broadly supportive of the security forces.
Reporting by Cordelia Hebblethwaite
Oh no....i hope they find him.
ReplyDeleteHow do u ppl even know he disappeared? I can decide not to tweet for weeks and connive with some progressives to say I'm missing. Dts how dey said omojuwa was arrested without picture evidence of when he was being arrested. Also SSS said dey don't have him, what if Boko haram took him or he's part of BH? Bcs if u know dt SSS HQ area well u'll knw dt u can't just be standing around der taking pics as an ordinary person. Anyway hope dis is resolved.
DeleteAnno 7:40.. Shut up ur dirty mouth there. Ciaxon works for Phcn Aso rock villa. So he knws the in and out of the enviroment. I guess he was on duty. I had a rappo with him that day. And stop talking shit. Omojuwa was arrest and beaten mercilessly by the stupid security forces for protesting peacefully, it was even El-rufai's lawyers that bailed him. You fool. Dpp are holding Ciaxon, calling him online terrorist. Wake up Nigerians. Enough is enough. ::The Daniels::#Freeciaxon
Deletelost bur found
DeleteCrazy Nigerian celebrities dresses, you won't believe
We should always know the difference between National security and social media freedom...We always like to copy western countries on freedom of speech but the real truth is that western countries are worst in terms of freedom of speech and reporting as the spy 100% of what their citizens say or do on the internet..
ReplyDeleteIn 9ja dere s freedom of speech but freedome AFTER speech I can't guarantee.........
DeleteShut up you twat! Which national security? Did he leak documents or steal classified information. Its because of the so called western world that people like you can have Internet to come and yarn trash! No wonder our hope keeps fading, with people like you, there's simply no hope...
DeleteWhat are you talking about? What does the picture he took have to do with national security? Pathetic! The real question is, where is Yusuf Siyaka Onimisi?
DeleteBoko haram is in the habit of uploading images and videos of attacks on security installation service, afterwards.
DeleteHow do they get such videos., stop watching that magic of Africa channel and use your brain properly
Aheadahead 9ja
I think d last time I checked d nigerian constitution,freedom of expression stil prevail.This is a stampede on human right,what a corrupt country we abode
ReplyDelete¤¤¤GOD punish devil¤¤¤
Nigeria is a cursed country! I swear if anytin happen to dat guy? Wat nonsense? Let's keep praying 4 his release.
ReplyDeletewow. good. let them bring him out oooo.
ReplyDeleteHope he has not been killed and buried in an unmarked grave. Like normal, nothing will happen to the perpetrators. They will even justify it. We are are an endangered species in Nigeria and the world is yet to realize it.
DeleteBiko, did this guy commit anything against Nigerian law?
ReplyDeleteIn a bid to be a responsible Nigerian,he caught himself in the web of the SSS.Tweeting isn't enough to set this man with the lion heart free.Every well meaning Nigerian must lend his voice to this infringement of fundamental human right! Celebs,international communities,Nigerians in Diaspora,LIBers, all and sundry,this is our call
ReplyDeleteFor real we need to let dis ppl know that they can't trample on our rights omg how can snapping pics be a crime
ReplyDeleteThey should release the dude, what's his offense? That he took pictures? This country is becoming a big mess...
ReplyDeleteWhaoo. I hope he's found soon oo
ReplyDeleteFor ur bridal, engagment makeover and gele tie, contact lamie makover on 2A2FE15D
There is one thing about you just of recent when it comes to FG, so if BBC is not reporting this, it is not worth displaying on your blog since the news has been trending for a while now. Remember that it might be your brother or mine.
ReplyDelete**Post my comment ooo
My observation about linda too...she is becoming biased!!!
DeleteLIB was d first to create mass awareness about ds case. @ least that was where my self and a host of others saw it
DeleteSee disclaimer chai lol Linda so u too dey fear
ReplyDeleteMost Nigerians just talk because they feel the urge to criticize the government, in which civilized (even uncivilized) country have u seen a civilian dishing out video clips n photos of a combat between security forces and insurgents? except approved by the forces themselves. these things are checked n regulated. some brains are just one sided!!!! SSS una don beat am reach sha, oya mak una release am
DeleteSocial media has its disadvantages. Spies everywhere. Certain things are mearnt to be done anonymously.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is found.
Free Ciaxon I beg. ђã†̥ offences has he commited? Rubbish
ReplyDeleteSo he is missing?wow!
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly was the reason for his arrest?
ReplyDeleteIm starting to get grossly concerned for jonathan.
I dont understand where hs govt is leading this country to.
This "people" are bastards and they lack directions as to where to direct the use of their so-called powers as security agency!
ReplyDeleteBH kidnapped some young girls sometimes ago, they are doing nothing about it, it's an innocent man who merely tweeted some pix that they have turned into a missing man now! Retards!
FREE @CIAXON! GO & LOOK FOR THE MISSING GIRLS KIDNAPPED BY BH.
Get a life!
I smell something fishy here, things might not all look like they seem.
ReplyDeleteExactly!! SSS said dey didn't arrest him. What if Boko Haram has him? God forbid
DeleteExactly!! SSS said dey didn't arrest him. What if Boko Haram has him? God forbid
DeleteWhen did SSS ever tell the truth? That their spokeswoman is a brilliant liar!
DeleteAll here making noise about freedom of speech should learn how to think,you can just come to the internet and say rubbish,the big question here is that,what was his position when the shooting occurred?he's not a journalist and how did he have the guts to be snapping pictures when a crime was still happening?there's nothing like freedom of speech here,do you know whethere he's an accomplise just distributing information to tell there members what the situation is on board?please guys think before commenting about freedom of speech
ReplyDeleteBless you for this deep insight! Selah!
Delete1 hundred likes for ur coment, I don't like it when people don't is going on & they will b taking nonsence
DeleteThank you!
DeleteThank you!
DeleteR truly a fool! Go tell dat to CNN.... Where people even report freely using ireport etc ...idiot! Enslave urself na ..its people like U̶̲̥̅̊ that do not want Nigerians to even have voice in anytin!
DeleteU must be sick.
DeletePlease snap your gutter shut! If you bothered, you'd know he works at phcn neat where the incident took place so it was within his eye view. Docile, brainwashed you trying to sound intelligent! If they catch you tomorrow for breathing the air made for security forces only, I hope your family and friends abandon you there! And for all the anonymous people typing thank you, are you so lazy you dont have individual thoughts to type out? You have to echo thank you to your fellow dim brother. With youths like you, nigeria is finished...totally finished!
DeleteYawa dey!
ReplyDeleteWhat will some of these commentators say when they realize he is neither missing nor arrested. You guys can't smell mischief from some political miscreants
ReplyDeleteGuess what? The west are just as bad. Too many examples to give so lets hope he's still alive
ReplyDeletewe are living in absolute hell here in nigeria we are running a democratic government yet we can't move freely, we don't have freedom of speech yet we claim to run a democratic goverment it seems like we are in a military regime
ReplyDelete#milito da great#
The idiot called Reno Omokiri has nothing to tweet about this issue right???? It's doesn't affect Jonathan's 2015 bid..such a shame
ReplyDeleteUna neva hear of #AmeboNation?! Chk http://wp.me/p4iCFH-60
ReplyDeleteNigerians are just 2 ignorant...do you think a normal american would just post a gun fight between al- qaeda and d c.i.a or home land security on the internet?!!!...dis shuld serve as a lesson and i hope de release him b4 its 2 late!!!!
ReplyDeletewhy was d guy snapping at that point in time, pls guys hope that guy is not a spy
ReplyDeleteI really hate 2 say dis bt this Nigeria I love so much is Really a very Stupid country! ...small time, we wuld be arrested for having phones or even walking in the streets !!! Mschewww!
ReplyDelete#coke n popcorn# leeme watch dis particular movie... BBC.
ReplyDeleteFLONIGA
This is a Lesson not everything u see u snap and post! Its lik dt evriwhr in d World!u wil be d 1st suspect!so u al cn rant al u lik!dts why der is a word called secret security service!don't snap pics of dem doin dt job!u talk abt freedom of speech try em for America CIA go miss u without trace! Thr smetins u see per chance wit ur eyes let it be for ur own consumption!!!
ReplyDeleteYawn...... Morning. Hv they found him?
ReplyDeleteyou have freedom of speech but what i dont guarantee u is freedom after speech. IDI AMIN.
ReplyDeletevia official intercom
human right violation. A cry for help!!!
ReplyDeletevia official intercom
SSS or who ever arrest him u people should released him oh or else u people will never hv peace in ur life
ReplyDeleteWhy are we so quick to judge and condemn our Security Agencies or our Govt. I don't believe in coincidence! What is he doing at Yellow House(SSS) as it is called at that particular hour? Knowing full well the state of the Nation concerning Security..why would take pictures of such and tweet? This freedom of speech that we all claim,may it not land us in places where we don't want to be! Every normal human seeing or hearing gun shots will duck for safety first rather than focus camera to get the best shots of the action. Like I said earlier, I don't believe in coincidence or happenstance...No smoke without fire like our people would say. GBAM!
ReplyDeleteThis is a Lesson not everything u see u snap and post! Its lik dt evriwhr in d World!u wil be d 1st suspect!so u al cn rant al u lik!dts why der is a word called secret security service!don't snap pics of dem doin dt job!u talk abt freedom of speech try em for America CIA go miss u without trace! Thr smetins u see per chance wit ur eyes let it be for ur own consumption!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope to God he is okay... and if anyone tried anything with him it will surely come to light soon and they will suffer the consequences, his family and friends should please try and check on him for
ReplyDeleteIf the report is true, Ciaxion needs to be released asap. In a democratic state, he was rightly doing his duty, as a citizen. Democracy must trump our fears/religion/tribe/gender/pedigree or whatever because all men are created equal with certain inalienable rights.
ReplyDeleteShame on Nigerian government......
ReplyDelete