From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended Abubakar Muhammad, a popular Kaduna-based social media activist known as Sultan, over allegations of cybercrime.
According to a top security source, Sultan was arrested on September 27 at Layin Dan-Masani, Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area.
Sultan allegedly created fake social media accounts to harass and extort a citizen, demanding payment through cryptocurrency and a Point of Sales (POS) account.
The complainant accused Sultan of using other catfish accounts to lure him to an undisclosed location, raising suspicion of a kidnapping attempt.
Although there were claims that Sultan deleted the accounts when he realized the DSS was closing in, cyber experts were said to be able to recover them from his phone.
Thers were claims that investigators found digital footprints, payment evidence, and conversations that directly linked Sultan to the alleged cybercrime.
The DSS is said to have maintained the position that Sultan’s arrest was not politically motivated, but rather aimed at protecting citizens from online criminals.
Arrangements are ongoing to arraign Muhammad before a competent court on allegations of cybercrime, extortion and threats to life.
