‘DSS Arrest Of Social Media Activist Not Connected To Politics’

Emerging facts indicate  that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Kaduna-based social media activist, Abubakar Muhammad, popularly known as Sultan for cybercrime and not for politics.

A top security source told our correspondent that Sultan was arrested on Sept. 27 at Layin Dan-Masani, Rigachikun in Igabi local government area, following a formal complaint that he used phishing social media accounts to harass and extort a citizen.

According to the source, Muhammad allegedly created fake accounts with the handles @OZugwai40986 on X (formerly Twitter) and @Zugwai75 on Instagram, which he used to threaten the complainant and demand payment through a crypto wallet and a Point of Sales (POS) account.

The complainant, who feared for his life and that of his family, also accused Sultan of using other catfish accounts to lure him to an undisclosed location, raising suspicion of a kidnapping attempt.

The source disclosed that Sultan deleted the accounts when he realised the DSS was closing in on him, but cyber experts of the Service were able to recover them from his phone.

He added that investigators found digital footprints, payment evidence and conversations linking him directly to the alleged cybercrime, which will be presented in court.

The source stressed that Sultan’s arrest had no political undertone, insisting that the Service was only concerned with safeguarding ordinary citizens from online criminals.

“This is purely a cybercrime case. The Service is interested in protecting citizens, not politics,” the security source said.

Meanwhile, Sultan’s arrest has sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with some of his supporters claiming political persecution, while others backed the DSS, saying the evidence must be tested in court.

It was also gathered that arrangements were ongoing to arraign Muhammad before a competent court on charges of cybercrime, extortion and threats to life as at press time.