Cybercrime Scandal: DSS Arrests Kaduna Influencer Sarki Sultan

Fresh details have emerged on why the Department of State Services (DSS) apprehended Kaduna-based social media personality, Abubakar Muhammad, popularly known as Sarki Sultan.

Security insiders confirmed that the arrest took place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Layin Dan-Masani, Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State. According to investigators, Sultan was picked up after a formal petition alleged he had been harassing and extorting a citizen online using phishing accounts.

The DSS source disclosed that Sultan allegedly operated multiple fake social media handles—@OZugwai40986 on X (formerly Twitter) and @Zugwai75 on Instagram—to issue threats and demand payments through a crypto wallet and a Point of Sales (POS) account. The complainant, fearing for her life and that of her family, further accused him of using “catfish” profiles to lure her into a potential kidnap trap.

Although Sultan reportedly deleted the suspicious accounts when he realised security operatives were tracking him, DSS cyber experts traced the activity back to his phone. Forensic checks uncovered digital footprints, chat records, and payment evidence directly tying him to the alleged crimes. The security source revealed that Sultan later confessed and begged for an out-of-court settlement.

The DSS was quick to dismiss claims of political motivation behind the arrest, stressing that its priority is citizen safety. “This is purely a cybercrime case. The Service is interested in protecting citizens, not politics,” the source maintained.

Nevertheless, the incident has triggered heated debates online. While some of Sultan’s supporters allege persecution, others insist that the matter should be resolved strictly through due process in court.

Barring any last-minute changes, Sarki Sultan is expected to be arraigned on Monday on charges of cybercrime, extortion, and threats to life.