The Department of State Services
(DSS) has arrested Kabiru Mohammed, a Kano state indigene, for allegedly
creating and sharing fake videos depicting a wedding ceremony between President
Muhammadu Buhari and Sadiya Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs and social
development.
Mohammed, 32, had reportedly
released the video which sparked frenzy across the nation in October.
Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, on
Friday, confirmed the arrest of the suspect, saying he is at the DSS
headquarters.
He said an investigation was
launched, following a formal complaint to the service by Zainab Ahmed, minister
of finance, whom the video also showed as getting married to the president .
“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 for finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed and another
was that of the minister for minister of humanitarian affairs and social
development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq.” Afunanya said.
“On the 11th of October, 2019 the
honourable minister for 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.
Afunanya warned members of the
public to avoid circulating misleading information, highlighting the negative
effects of fake news.
“We want to use this opportunity
to once again please ask Nigerians as always that the spread of false news
through 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,” he said.
“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. 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.”
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