Journalist Female JournalistTaiwo Aina Adeokun Locks X Account After Online Attacks Over New York Times Nigeria Airstrikes Report

Nigerian journalist Taiwo Aina Adeokun has locked her X (formerly Twitter) account following an online backlash linked to her reporting in a New York Times investigation on U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria. The attacks were sparked by a post from X user Bassy Agozie, who publicly named and shared an image of Adeokun while accusing her of conducting a “hatchet job” and pushing narratives he claimed could incite ethnic violence against Igbo communities. The post gained significant traction, drawing thousands of likes, reposts, and replies. Several responses amplified the accusations, shifting the focus from critique of the reporting to personal attacks on Adeokun’s credibility, intent, and role as a journalist. Commenters framed her work as dangerous and harmful, rather than engaging with the substance of the New York Times article or the broader accountability questions it raised. While no explicit threats were recorded, the language used in the posts escalated tensions and contributed to a hostile online environment. Shortly after the exchanges gained momentum, Adeokun restricted access to her X account, a move commonly associated with self-protection in cases of online harassment targeting journalists. Source : https://x.com/Bassy_Agozie/status/2013191255891603614