Samuel Ogundipe, the Managing Editor of Peoples Gazette has cried out over the inability of people to access the Peoples Gazette website. Ogundipe accused the Nigerian Governmet of blocking Peoples Gazette website.

Read the full statement by Samuel Ogundipe:

At about 19:00 hrs local time on January 26, 2021, Peoples Gazette's website (https:///wkUFy0ZN63) was hit by a coordinated disruption of service across all telecommunication networks in Nigeria.

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:///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

https://twitter.com/GazetteNGR/status/1354446025000415246?s=19

Meanwhile, Nicholas Ibekwe of Premium Times tweeted this:

How can all major telcos just block access to the website of a newspaper without an explanation.

Who gave the order to block access to @GazetteNGR?

Why is one saying anything.

Are we no longer in a democracy?

This is indeed a dangerous precedent if it is allowed to stay.

https://twitter.com/nicholasibekwe/status/1354491887596527616?s=19

FG didn't block it, it was buhari and his herdsmen dt blocked it.....


Another FTC again...

Chaiii OK Jesus you love me too much oooo

Buhari's Nigeria

Alright.

Take heart.

Buhari is an Irredeemable Ruthless General

They should not block Niaraland,or else I will call Sunday Igboho for them

What a country to find oneself at a time like this
If CNN was a Nigerian based corporation and dealt with this administration the same way they did Donald thrump, CNN would have long been offline by now

Why?then use the block to mould another site

A leopard cannot change its spot.
Nigeria is now = Uganda

Baawaa:
They should not block Niaraland,or else I will call Sunday Igboho for them

That would be too obvious, they may try filtering politics section.

Goodluck Jonathan tell them dey no hear

I noticed it immediately they posted a news on the sack of the new COAS.


Very very bad

That's APC for you ...same thing they did to naijasage

Tyranny reloaded

They will not succeed

This isn't a country anymore

Keep creating an alternative website

Court action will resolve the matter.

Okay, e don start.

FG cannot just block your website for the fun of it...

This report is one-sided and filled with conjectures and baseless allegations...

But Nigeria must triumph, whether the enemies of Nigeria like it or not!

God bless us all.

I just checked the website and it's accessible... These guys just want to tarnish the image of this administration. But they will not succeed! You enemies of Nigeria! If the appropriate authority blacklists your domain or website, it means you have done something punishable and the blacklisting was just the appropriate punishment.. So stop playing the victim card and go to court, if you believe you're being treated unjustly.. Enough of this petty emotional blackmail!

Nigeria must better!

Once a tyrant , always a tyrant.

Once a dictator. Always a dictator.

A failure in 1983 is still a failure in 2021.

Nigeria is sick and buhari is the sickness.

We have already sent Akata away, time to attend to the chicken..

When Jack Dorsey and the Satanic DEMOCRATs were setting the precedence you people were cheering them on here , not realizing that despots in third world countries were learning

And this is the same govt that complains that Nigeria is losing Billions to foreign hosting companies.

Who will host in Nigeria when it can be blocked by any mad man in govt?

They just dealt a serious blow to investment in the tech sector.

And the sadder thing is that they don't even realise it.

I suspect that INEC woman in Aso Villa

GamalNasser:
When Jack Dorsey and the Satanic DEMOCRATs were setting the precedence you people were cheering them on here , not realizing that despots in third world countries were learning

You are comparing private actions to govt policy?

So if Twitter bans you,you can't go to another website?

CSTRR:

You are comparing private actions to govt policy?

So if Twitter bans you,you can't go to another website?

People went to Parler and the same people took Parler down ... Are MTN, Glo and Airtel govt companies?

Buhari's wickedness and tasteless lifestyle is the reason why his wife a abandoned him for a young Turk in Dubai.

Sahara Reporters right now...


I love New York.

The way this guy's publish People's Bank account transaction as well as companies documents I am not surprise they can't find there website because there is a thin line between Freedom of Information and infringement of Privacy.... but I can still view them na... It just might be a DDOS attack. Learn to mask your IP address