Popular social media platform, Twitter has suspended the accounts of Nigerian influencers for allegedly being involved in a funded promotion for the release of Columbian businessman, Alex Saab.
The influencers, according to their Twitter names, include Pamilerin, Samuel Mbah, Danny Walter, Tife, Valhalla, Mr Ahmed, Adonai, Volqx, Lamar, Four-eyed Edo Boy, Biisi.
A check by TheNewsGuru confirmed that the accounts have been suspended.
TheNewsGuru reports that Saab was arrested in Cape Verde last year when the private jet he was traveling on stopped during what Venezuela has described as a humanitarian mission.
The United States officers believe Saab, an associate of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, holds abundant secrets about how Maduro, his family and top aides allegedly siphoned off millions of dollars in government contracts amid widespread hunger in the oil-rich nation. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly traveling to Tehran to negotiate deals to exchange Venezuelan gold for Iranian gasoline.
Then, the Venezuelan government allegedly used paid Twitter accounts to sway public opinion and stop authorities in the West African islands of Cape Verde from extraditing its chief dealmaker to the US for onward prosecution for money laundering charges.
The #FreeAlexSaab hashtag trended online sometimes late last year and also in February 2021 with more than half a million Twitter posts, according to Financial Times analysis. Some Nigerian social media influencers were allegedly paid to trend the hashtag meant to hinder justice.
A certain Tweep, @lakul5887, wrote, “Some weeks ago, I saw some influencers trending #FreeAlexSaab. I decided to go through his profile and discovered man is a criminal. This our influencers! In fact, hunger is bad.”
Another Tweep, @Drolufunmilayo wrote: “Yesterday night, some Nigerian twitter influencer accounts suffered sudden suspension by Jack. Mbah, Bisi, Danny walter, Tife, Volqx, Lamar, Uncle Mohamz, Pamilerin, Valhalla, Four eyed Edo Boy, Biyi and many others. This is sad to hear. Please follow them when they get back”.
@Vince_ifyjoe however condemned @DrOlufunmilayo for blaming Twitter founder.
“Why using the word “suffered”? Enough of them playing victims here, they did the wrong thing and were punished for it. Let’s not blame Jack at all. Imagine supporting a criminal wanted by the Interpol“