Brazil’s supreme court has ordered the suspension of X, formerly Twitter, after Elon Musk failed to meet the deadline to appoint a new legal representative for the social media platform in the country.

In a ruling on Friday, Presiding Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the “immediate, complete and comprehensive suspension of the operation of” X in Brazil.

According to Judge Moraes, “The national communications agency must take all necessary measures to implement this order until X complies with all court orders and pays existing fines amounting to $3.28 million.”

Additionally, Moraes warned that using “technological subterfuges,” such as virtual private networks (VPNs), to circumvent the suspension would incur a fine of $8,900.

According to the judge, inciting speech has been spread through X and is harming Brazil’s democracy.

“We have a right to defend fundamental rights. Those who violate democracy, who violate fundamental human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable,” Moraes said.

The row began in April, with the judge ordering the suspension of dozens of X accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation.

Reacting to the decision, Musk accused the judge of violating free speech for political purposes.

X, via its official handle, tweeted “power to the people in Brazil and everywhere else”.

Tragedy struck at Faudiya Islamic School in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State as gunmen attacked the institution, killing three students.

According to Dungus Abdulkarim, police spokesperson in Yobe, the assault occurred at approximately 3:45 am on Friday.

The gunmen, armed with dangerous weapons, arrived on about 10 motorcycles, storming the school premises.

Initially, the assailants planned to abduct four students, but instead chose to kill them to avoid the burden of taking them into the forest.

One student who attempted to escape suffered injuries and is currently receiving hospital treatment.

According to The Cable, Abdulkarim said, “It is confirmed, the divisional police headquarters at Geidam received the report this morning by a certain individual that there was an attack on a particular school,”

“We mobilised our men, and they went there and evacuated three dead persons and one with a bullet wound and was admitted to the hospital.

“The attackers came on a motorcycle, about 10 of them, carrying deadly arms such as AK-47 rifles and other items.

“They entered the school and took four of the students and killed three instantly and injured one person.

“The information we received from one of the injured persons was that the attackers invaded and told them they were there to abduct them to the forest and kill them, but they did not want to carry any load; in that regard, ‘we will just kill you here’.

“We are still investigating to find out the perpetrators and why the attack on the school.

“The attack occurred at exactly 3:45 to 4:00 am today. The school is a day and boarding school. There is a quarter in the school.”

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, has made significant seizures to enhance security in the Southwest zone.

Over 11,000 cutlasses were confiscated from importers, while the Export Monitoring Team also impounded over 6,000 dry donkey skins from exporters around the Apapa axis of Lagos State.

Controller Kola Oladeji disclosed these seizures while addressing journalists at the command on Friday.

These efforts demonstrate the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to curbing harmful imports and exports, ensuring national security and safety.

The seized items underscore potential threats to public safety, highlighting the importance of vigilant customs enforcement.

More to come…