Kebbi debunks ‘Sai Malam’ insurgency claims, says group is into cybercrime

The Kebbi State Government has dismissed reports alleging the emergence of a new insurgent group known as Sai Malam, insisting that no such terrorist organisation exists in the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, described the reports as false and politically motivated while leading a high-level media delegation on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, in Abuja.

Ahmed said investigations by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police established that those being referred to as Sai Malam are young people engaged in cybercrime and online extortion, not insurgents.

He explained that the suspects, popularly known as Yan Vocal, use digital platforms to target government officials and wealthy individuals in fraudulent schemes, adding that several arrests had already been made.

“When the report surfaced, it created panic as people from across Nigeria and outside the country kept calling to verify whether it was true. Security agencies immediately launched investigations and found that there was no insurgent group. The individuals involved are cybercriminals, not terrorists,” Ahmed said.

The commissioner accused political opponents of deliberately spreading false information to undermine Governor Nasir Idris’ administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the state government has repeatedly had to counter exaggerated reports and misinformation designed to portray the government negatively.

Ahmed also refuted a recent report claiming that over 130 children die daily in Kebbi State due to child mortality, describing the figure as completely fabricated.

He argued that such statistics were unrealistic, noting that the state has fewer than half a million children within the affected age bracket.

“If 130 children were dying every day, there would be no children left in Kebbi State within a year. That report is entirely false,” he said.

He further disclosed that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which was cited as the source of the report, had contacted the state government to clarify that the organisation never issued such figures.

Ahmed appealed to NAN to continue supporting the state in promoting factual information and countering fake news, stressing that accurate reporting is essential to preventing the spread of misinformation.

Responding, NAN Managing Director Malam Ali M. Ali said the rise of citizen journalism and artificial intelligence has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish genuine reports from fabricated ones.

He recalled listening to the report on the alleged child mortality rate and said it was disturbing, adding that he had expected an official clarification from the state government.

Ali assured the delegation that NAN would continue to uphold factual, balanced and credible journalism, noting that the agency’s nationwide network of reporters remains committed to accuracy.

He also advised government information managers to be more proactive in communicating verified information, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.

According to him, while the Kebbi government has recorded visible achievements in infrastructure and governance, delayed responses to false reports could allow misinformation to gain public acceptance.

The delegation also included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki; Special Adviser on Communications Strategy, Abdullahi Zuru; Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris; Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment and Orientation, Ibrahim Jombali; and Special Adviser on New Media, Aliyu Bandado.