At about 19:00 hrs local time on January 26, 2021, Peoples …

This disruption, we are increasingly learning from top federal sources, was based on a directive, from the Nigerian government to MTN, Glo Mobile and other telecom firms, that sought an immediate blacklist of our web address as well as all other alternative domain names.

Our internal assessments and notes from our readers indicate a total restriction on our website for people connecting via MTN, Glo Mobile and Airtel, i.e.: a vast majority of Nigerian Internet users.

Since our inception, we have diligently carried out our sole duty of bringing to public awareness, the rot that exists in our public and private institutions.

We have exposed the abuse of power by government officials, agencies, and cronies; corrupt practices in the public and private sectors and flagrant abuse of human rights and the rule of law by security agencies.

Despite intimidation, threats, harassment and offers of jaw-dropping financial and material inducement from powerful people in and out of government, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to the truth, with courage and nothing else.

These new tactics that strive to screen Nigerians off independent and truthful journalism are a dagger in the relics of press freedom — another despotic turn in Nigeria's descent into full-blown dictatorship under Muhammadu Buhari.

The disruption of services targeted at establishments like ours has become a weapon of choice for the Nigerian government in recent times.

On October 20, 2020, during #EndSARS campaign against police brutality, there were credible reports that telecommunications services...

...were conveniently shut off around the Lekki Toll Plaza during what has become known as the Lekki Massacre, making it virtually impossible for crucial evidence to be chronicled in real time.

During that historic campaign, advocacy group Feminist Coalition had its website restricted across Nigerian telecommunications platforms. This was accompanied by illegal restrictions on bank accounts of Gatefield and other prominent #EndSARS voices on the orders of Nigeria’s CBN.

In the last few hours, our technical support staff members have made various efforts to create alternative channels to accessing Peoples Gazette's content but these efforts have been consistently thwarted by the telecom firms.

We are in touch with MTN, Glo and Airtel executives to resolve the disruption, which we regard as a targeted sabotage of the work we have been doing to throw light in the darkest corners of Nigeria’s socio-political space.

While we continue efforts to restore regular access to Peoples Gazette's website, we would like to encourage readers to consider the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass prevailing censorship in the meantime.

All our stories will also be replicated on our Facebook page: https://t.co/AlEhvhC9qZ. We also encourage our readers to create or replicate their own digital solidarity platforms for sharing stories by Peoples Gazette.

We are using this opportunity to put on notice those who want to throttle the media that we will never succumb to pressure. Peoples Gazette will continue to strive our best in pursuit of truth, courage and nothing else.

Thank you.

Samuel Ogundipe,

Managing Editor,
Peoples Gazette