THISDAY

DSS Arrests Man for Sharing FakeVideo of Buhari’s Wedding Kingsley Nweze

-

The Department of State Services has arrested a 32-year-old man, Kabiru Mohammed for creating and sharing fake videos depicting President Muhammadu Buhari wedding the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed and Minister of Humanitari­an Affairs and Social Developmen­t, Sadiya Farouq.

The fake videos had been viral on the social media space between August and October 2019.

Parading the suspect at the DSS headquarte­rs in Abuja yesterday, Public Relations Officer, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said an investigat­ion was launched, following a formal complaint to the Service by the Minister of Finance.

Afunanya said, “Last year, 2019 between August and October there was a defamatory video that circulated widely across Nigeria and showing false engagement of Mr. President in marriage with some members of his cabinet. One was the Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed and another was that of the Minister of Humanitari­an Affairs and Social Developmen­t, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq. On the 11thof October, 2019 the Honourable Minister of Finance, brought a formal complaint to the Service in which she stated that the video had cost her big embarrassm­ent and asked that an investigat­ion be opened into that audio/video and the materials associated with it, the infographi­cs and all the materials that were in circulatio­n at the moment. She asked that a detailed investigat­ion be opened in that regard with a view to identifyin­g the persons or groups of persons that may have been behind the circulatio­n of such defamatory materials.

“The Service went into investigat­ion and we can announce that it had apprehende­d the person that is involved and the person who started this and who circulated the materials. His name is Kabiru Mohammed. He hails from Kano. He is 32 years. He holds a Diploma in Hausa and Fulfulde from the Federal College of Education, Kano and also holds a Diploma in Mass Communicat­ion from Aminu Kano Islamic School, according to him.

“He has confessed and investigat­ion has also revealed his involvemen­t in the creation of these materials and the circulatio­n of the materials. Investigat­ion is continuing to determine the actual reasons behind his intent. What we can assure you as Nigerians is that we would continue to deepen this investigat­ion and bring it to a logical conclusion.

“We will do everything needful within the ambit of the law to bring this to a logical conclusion, as to determine whether there is or not, other persons, interests and motives behind this other than what he has said.

“We want to use this opportunit­y to once again please ask Nigerians as always that the spread of false news through the social media does not do well for any person. You may enjoy the spread of such falsehood when you are not the victim. But if you become the victim, you will know the pain. And we want to urge every citizen and residents and of course Nigerians, that anywhere they are, they should desist from spreading falsehoods, misreprese­ntations, rumours against one another, against then government, and against institutio­ns of government.

“By the time you click that button and you spread or participat­e in sharing news that is not true, you are helping in causing disharmony, you are helping in bringing problem in the country. And you are also feeding on difference­s in the country to bring about chaos, anarchy and instabilit­y. As we go into the New Year, we urge everyone to make a new attitude and begin to find reasons to be more patriotic, to be more law abiding, and be better citizens and to help move Nigeria forward. On our part we would continue to perform our duties and responsibi­lities without let or fear and will always collaborat­e with all stakeholde­rs particular­ly the media and strategic partners to make sure there is lasting peace in the country.”

The suspect, Mohammed, who admitted to creating and sharing the videos begged for forgivenes­s, saying it was a mistake.

He said he was a member of a political group in Kano known as Kwakwasiya.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria