ABUJA, Nigeria — The Kebbi State Government has categorically dismissed reports of a new insurgent group known as “Sai Malam” operating in the state, describing the claims as “an outright lie” and a calculated act of misinformation designed to destabilise the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, made the clarification on Tuesday in Abuja while leading a high-level media delegation on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Malam Ali M. Ali.
“When that information was dished out, it alarmed virtually everybody. We were inundated in Kebbi State with calls from across the country and beyond about the authenticity of that information,” Ahmed said.
The commissioner explained that investigations by the Department of State Services and the police revealed that the group referred to as “Sai Malam” is not a terror organisation but a syndicate of young cybercriminals engaged in online fraud and extortion.
“What they found out was that instead of a terror group, what we are talking about is a group of young people who are into cybercrime, manipulating computers and reaching out to government officials and people they believe have money,” he said.
Ahmed further alleged that investigations showed the misinformation was sponsored by opposition elements for political gains, adding that the state government had been contending with opposition figures spreading disinformation and half-truths to discredit the administration of Governor Nasir Idris.
Police Confirm Arrest of 13 Suspects
The Kebbi State Police Command has separately confirmed the arrest of 13 suspected members of the cybercrime syndicate locally known as “Yan Vocal.”
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said the syndicate, operating mainly in Argungu Local Government Area, consists of youths aged between 19 and 24 who specialise in hacking social media accounts, creating fake online identities, and using blackmail, threats, and deceptive tactics to extort money from victims.
According to the police, the group targets political office holders, traditional and religious leaders, business owners, and other prominent personalities within and outside Nigeria. They use sophisticated online techniques, including video-editing applications and pre-recorded nude videos, to deceive victims into believing they are engaged in live video conversations before demanding money.
Among those arrested are Ahmed Nasir, Rabiu Sani, Sadiq Umar, and Umar Nasir, who allegedly conspired to obtain nude images of a female victim and demanded N1 million from her under threat of exposure. Another group allegedly defrauded a victim of N3 million after manipulating a video to falsely portray the victim as being on a live call with a naked woman.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Hadejia, warned that cybercrime remains a serious criminal offence with severe legal consequences and urged parents and guardians to monitor their children’s online activities.
Commissioner Also Dismisses Child Mortality Claims
The commissioner also rejected a media report alleging that more than 130 children die daily in Kebbi due to a high child mortality rate, describing the statistics as fabricated to portray the Idris administration in a bad light.
“You can imagine, and we have less than half a million people in that age category. If 130 children were dying daily, in the next one year there would be no child left in Kebbi State. So that is a complete lie,” he said.
Ahmed claimed that UNICEF, which was said to have issued the statement, reached out to the state government to deny the report.
Media Partnership
In his response, NAN Managing Director Ali M. Ali said the rise of citizen journalism and artificial intelligence had made it easier for fake news to spread.
“Fake stories abound. People are more inclined to believe sensationalism,” he said. “In NAN, we don’t have that luxury. We always report factually. That’s why over the years we have come to be trusted.“
Ali urged government communicators to be more proactive in sharing verified information, counselling them to “always be the first with the story — the truth.”
