Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham is facing significant backlash on social media after she reported trolls who criticized her support for President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general election to the police for cyberbullying.

During the 2022 election campaign, Abraham had openly endorsed Tinubu, expressing confidence in his ‘Renewed Hope’ action plans to address Nigeria's problems. She wasn't alone; several Yoruba movie stars also campaigned vigorously for Tinubu. However, since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, the country's economy has deteriorated significantly.

On his first day in office, Tinubu announced the end of fuel subsidies, causing the price of Premium Motor Spirit to soar from N185 to over N700. Furthermore, the naira has plummeted against the dollar following the Central Bank of Nigeria's decision to float the currency, resulting in a highly unstable exchange rate that has reached between N1,200 and N1,500 per dollar. These measures have exacerbated the country's economic woes, pushing more Nigerians into poverty.

Abraham, who has always defended her political stance, has become a focal point for public frustration. Many netizens demand she explain how Tinubu plans to address Nigeria's myriad problems. In response to one critic on X, Abraham stated she has moved on to focus on her acting career and regrets being open about her political choices during the elections.

Despite her attempts to distance herself from politics, the backlash continues. One user, #YVRLO, directed harsh comments toward Abraham and her family, including wishing harm to her son, prompting Abraham to take legal action against him. Her spokesman clarified that this was not an abuse of power but a stand against cyberbullying, emphasizing that online actions have consequences.

Another user, #Ayo, accused Abraham of using money from Tinubu for her husband's hair transplant, leading to his arrest for cyberbullying after Abraham reported him. Following the arrest, user Ajebo Danny challenged Abraham, suggesting she would need to arrest many more people. 

Danny further called the attention of the public to report Abraham’s new movies on Netflix if she refuses to release the arrested troll, noting, “If Ayo is not released today, we will start mass reporting Toyin’s Instagram page and then move to sending mails to Netflix

“These are the official Netflix emails: Netflix Nigeria: nigeria.support@netflix.com

“nigeria@netflix.com. Netflix Global: help@netflix.com.”

One Bayo Otedola said, “Dear @elonmusk, I hope you can see what @toyin_abraham1 has done to people using your platform for free speech. I hope you’re aware that she uses the Nigerian Police force to arrest innocent citizens. Or is free speech not a thing anymore? #FreeAyo.”

Despite the backlash, Abraham has defended her actions, emphasizing that while she's open to criticism as a public figure, threats against her family and false accusations are unacceptable. She maintains that her decision to report cyberbullying is not an abuse of power but a necessary step to combat online harassment.