DSS arrests Kaduna social media activist over cybercrime
By Hussaina Yakubu
September 28, 2025
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kaduna-based social media activist, Abubakar Muhammad, popularly known as Sultan, over allegations of cybercrime and not for political reasons.
A security source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that Muhammad was apprehended on September 27 at Layin Dan-Masani, Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area, following a formal complaint accusing him of using phishing accounts to harass and extort a citizen.
The source said Muhammad allegedly created fake social media accounts with the handles @OZugwai40986 on X (formerly Twitter) and @Zugwai75 on Instagram, which he used to threaten the complainant and demand payment via a crypto wallet and a Point of Sales (POS) account.
The complainant reportedly feared for his life and that of his family after Sultan allegedly used other catfish accounts to lure him to an undisclosed location, raising suspicion of a possible kidnap attempt.
The source further disclosed that Sultan deleted the accounts when he realised the DSS was closing in, but cyber experts from the agency were able to recover them from his phone.
Investigators also found digital footprints, payment evidence, and conversations linking Muhammad directly to the alleged offences, which will be presented in court.
The source emphasised that Sultan’s arrest was not politically motivated, but purely aimed at protecting citizens from cybercrime.
“This is purely a cybercrime case. The Service is interested in protecting citizens, not politics,” the source said.
The arrest has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some supporters alleging political persecution, while others backed the DSS, urging that the evidence be tested in court.
As at press time, arrangements were ongoing to arraign Muhammad before a competent court on charges of cybercrime, extortion, and threats to life.