Zamfara blogger arrested for alleged criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance

The Zamfara State Police Command has said that the arrest of a blogger, Mugira Yusuf, was not politically motivated as being reported in the media.

Mugira, said to be a handler of social media handles of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a close ally of former Zamfara Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, was arrested by operatives of the command’s Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) last Thursday and arraigned in court on Friday on charges of spreading false information, defamation and sedition.

A statement issued on Sunday, October 24, by the spokesperson of the command, SP Mohammed Shehu, explained that early this year an official complaint of alleged criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbance against Mugira Yusuf and one Ukashatu Abubakar was received by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ayuba Elkanah.

In the course of investigation at the State CID, Ukashatu Abubakar, was arrested and charged to court, while Mugira Yusuf fled and had since been avoiding arrest.

“The attention of Zamfara State Police Command has been drawn to news trending on social and other conventional media, regarding the arrest of one Mugira Yusuf by Operatives of the Command on Thursday, 21st October, 2021, where media were giving his arrest different correlation,” the statement read.

“For the avoidance of doubt and purpose of clarity, the Command wishes to state that, on 17th January, 2020, an official complaint of alleged criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbance against the said Mugira Yusuf and One Ukashatu Abubakar was received by the Commissioner of Police. In the course of investigation at the State CID, one of the suspect, Ukashatu Abubakar was arrested and charged to court, while Mugira Yusuf fled and had since been avoiding arrest.

“On Thursday, 21st October 2021, the second suspect, Mugira Yusuf was arrested at Unguwar Dallatu area, Gusau by Police operatives investigating the case. The suspect was charged to court since on Friday 22nd October, 2021.

“In view of the above, members of the public are enjoined to note that, the arrest was not Politically Motivated as being reported by some media. The Police as law enforcement agency will continue to discharge its functions in line with constitutional provisions and other professional ethics.”