Parody Twitter Account, Nigerian Police Faux, Gains over 10,000 Followers Hours after Crack Down by Police

Matilda Omonaiye/

Less than 24 hours after the Nigeria Police Force declared war against a parody Twitter account which goes by the name, Nigerian Police Faux, the handle has gained over 10,000 additional followers and continues to add more by the hour.

The account which had been existence since July 2012 had 8,950 followers before the crack down by police, but currently boasts 20,000 followers.

The Twitter name of the account also changed from the ‘Nigerian Prolice Faux’ to the ‘Nigerian Police Faux’ after the crack down, ostensibly to register its nonchalance to the threat by the police.

Also, Twitter users have been castigating the police for cracking down on the handle which unambiguously identified itself as a parody account.

Some accused the police of misplaced priority, while others expressed disappointment with the level of illiteracy which apparently exists within the heirarchy of the police.

One of the reactions twitted via the handle, @gimbakakanda, read: “Investigation to “deal with” the handler of a self-identified parody account? Do you realize that parody means an imitation done for comic effect? It doesn’t even violate Twitter rules. Are you for real?”

Another reaction tweeted by @DEnyekung, read: “I’m glad you’ve got access to the internet, you could check what parody means, even Uncle Trump has one and is too busy doing his job than bothering about that, I guess you step into the PH matter and quit using this as a distraction to doing your job.”

See more reactions to the move by the police:

The handle introduces itself as the “Official PARODY Twitter account of The Nigerian Police Force,” with Twitter handle @PoliceNGfaux.

It also adds: “This account does not represent the views of NPF,” urging followers to “Report cases to the Nigeria Police.”

However, yesterday, the police threatened to clamp down on the account.

In a tweet via its verified Twitter handle @PoliceNG, the police state: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a new Twitter handle known as @policeNGfaux

“Be it known to the public that the handle does not emanate from the Nigeria Police Force.

“It is not only fraudulent but ostensibly designed to spread fake news and consequently tarnish the image of the Force.

“Members of the public are advised not to ‘follow’ the handle and those currently ‘following’ the handle are advised to stop forthwith.”

“Meanwhile, investigation is on to ascertain the source of the fraudulent handle and deal with it appropriately.”

In response, Nigeria Police Faux tweets:

Its pinned tweet, posted on September 10, derides the Nigeria Police by defining depression as: “Standing at checkpoints without seeing Yahoo boyz.”

The Twitter handle responds to all sorts of issues, and appears to mock perceived corrupt practices in the Force.

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