The Kebbi State Government has dismissed reports of a new insurgent group known as “Sai Malam” operating in the state, describing the claim as false and politically motivated.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, made this known during a courtesy visit by a state media delegation 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 revealed that the group being referred to as “Sai Malam” is not an insurgent organisation but a network of cybercriminals involved in online fraud and extortion.
According to him, members of the group, popularly known as Yan Vocal, target government officials and other individuals they believe have money through cyber-related crimes.
“When the report emerged, it caused widespread concern, with people from across the country and beyond calling to verify its authenticity. Security agencies investigated and discovered there was no insurgent group. Those involved are cybercriminals, not terrorists, and some arrests have already been made,” he said.
The commissioner accused opposition figures of sponsoring false reports to tarnish the image of Governor Nasir Idris’ administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also dismissed a recent media report claiming that more than 130 children die daily in Kebbi due to a high child mortality rate, describing it as fabricated.
Ahmed argued that such figures were unrealistic, noting that if the report were true, the state’s child population would be wiped out within a short period.
He added that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which was cited in the report, had distanced itself from the claim, informing the state government that the statistics did not originate from the organisation.
The commissioner urged NAN to partner with the state government in promoting accurate information and countering misinformation, saying false narratives were being used to score political points.
Responding, NAN Managing Director Malam Ali M. Ali acknowledged the growing challenge posed by fake news, particularly with the rise of citizen journalism and artificial intelligence.
He recalled hearing the child mortality report and welcomed the state government’s clarification, stressing the importance of timely official responses to misinformation.
Ali assured the delegation that NAN would continue to uphold factual and balanced reporting while encouraging government communicators to be proactive in presenting verified information before false narratives gain traction.
He noted that although Kebbi has made progress in infrastructure and governance under the current administration, issues such as insecurity could easily be misrepresented if official information is delayed.
