The Department of State Service (DSS) on Saturday subjected five media aides of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to thorough interrogation over allegations of cyberbullying and defamation of character initiated by former presidential candidate of New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The aides include Director General Media and Publicity, Kano Government house, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa; Salisu Yahaya Hotoro; APC youth leader; Ibrahim Adam, Special Adviser on Information and a former media aide to Kwankwaso; Nuhu Dambazau; and Mukhtar S. Yahuza, were squeezed for several hours at the service headquarters in Kano.

A credible source told The Guardian that the affected aides voluntarily reported themselves to the secret police upon invitation following a petition signed by the leader of Kwankwasiyya Movement.

The petition dated 10th April, 2026 under the platform of Kwankwasiyya Movement and addressed to the DSS Director in the state was signed by Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In the petition, Kwankwaso accused the government officials of cyberbullying, online harassment targeting him and other prominent members of his political camp.

Kwankwaso, a former Governor, also accused several individuals in government of orchestrating coordinated defamatory campaigns on social media platforms, particularly Facebook.

According to the petition, April, 2026, Kwankwaso alleged that actions have intensified in recent times, raising concerns over the use of digital platforms to spread defamatory content and heighten political tension in Kano against his personality and his Kwankwasiyya Movement.

“It has become evident that certain individuals allegedly occupying official positions within the Kano State Government are behind persistent cyberbullying and coordinated attacks against our leaders,” the petition partly read.

Kwankwaso, who recently decamped to African Democratic Congress (ADC), urged the DSS to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action, warning that such activities could undermine peace and political stability.

According to Dawakin-Tofa, “My humble self, along with three others (namely) Salisu Yahaya Hotoro, Ibrahim Adam and Hon. Nuhu Dambazau, are released on bail by the DSS Kano State Command over a petition filed by Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on alleged cyber crimes, intimidation and defamation of his character.

“We were under the custody of the DSS for four hours and finally released on bail based on self-recognition. Sen. Kwankwaso is set to present the matter before the court”. Dawakin-Tofa read.

However, political observers note that the development comes amid a long-running social media rivalry between supporters of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and backers of the Kano State Government.

They argue that online confrontations have been a recurring feature on both sides, with government officials often being targets of sustained criticism from opposition supporters.

Although, there was no official statement from Government on the development, the spokesperson to Governor Yusuf Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa has confirmed the development on his verified social media page. (Text, excluding headline: The Guardian)

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