New details have emerged on the arrest of Kaduna-based social media activist, Abubakar Muhammad, popularly known as Sultan.
First Daily correspondent learnt that Sultan was picked up by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on September 27 at Layin Dan-Masani, Rigachikun, Igabi Local Government Area, after a formal complaint was lodged against him.
According to the intelligence Sources quoted security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makam, on Sunday, Sultan allegedly created fake accounts with the handles @OZugwai40986 on X (formerly Twitter) and @Zugwai75 on Instagram, which he used to threaten the complainant to release her pictures 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 kidnap attempt.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Musician, Eight Others Jailed for Cybercrime in Kwara
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.
Further 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.
However, 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.
As at press time, plans were ongoing to arraign Muhammad before a competent court on charges of cybercrime, extortion and threats to life.
