DSS nabs Kaduna social media activist over alleged cybercrime, not politics

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Fresh details person emerged connected wherefore operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Kaduna-based societal media activist, Abubakar Muhammad, popularly known arsenic Sultan.

A apical information root told Vanguard that Sultan was picked up connected September 27 astatine Layin Dan-Masani, Rigachikun successful Igabi Local Government Area, pursuing a ceremonial petition accusing him of cyber harassment and extortion.

According to the source, Muhammad allegedly operated fake societal media accounts with the handles @OZugwai40986 connected X (formerly Twitter) and @Zugwai75 connected Instagram, which helium allegedly utilized to endanger a complainant and request payments via a crypto wallet and a Point of Sales (POS) account.

The complainant, who said helium feared for his beingness and that of his family, further alleged that Sultan ran respective catfish accounts to lure him to an undisclosed determination — raising suspicion of a kidnap attempt.

Investigators, the root revealed, discovered that Sultan deleted the accounts aft learning the Service was closing successful connected him. However, DSS cyber experts were capable to retrieve the accounts from his phone.

Digital footprints, outgo trails, and chat records allegedly linking him straight to the crimes were besides recovered and volition signifier portion of the prosecution grounds successful court.

The root emphasised that the apprehension had thing to bash with politics, stressing that the Service was lone discharging its mandate of protecting citizens from cybercriminals.

“This is purely a cybercrime case. The Service is funny successful protecting citizens, not politics,” the root said.

Meanwhile, Sultan’s apprehension has triggered a tempest of reactions online. While his supporters alleged governmental persecution, others insisted the substance should beryllium tested successful tribunal based connected evidence.

As of property time, arrangements were underway to arraign Muhammad earlier a competent tribunal connected charges bordering connected cybercrime, extortion, and threats to life.

The station DSS nabs Kaduna societal media activistic implicit alleged cybercrime, not politics appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.