Sokoto Police Bust WhatsApp Cult Network, Arrest Three
The Sokoto State Police Command has smashed what authorities describe as a Digital cult recruitment network after arresting three suspected members of the notorious Sai Malam cult group, believed to be behind a string of criminal activities across the State.
The suspects, including the alleged gang leader Usman Shu’aibu were apprehended on Friday during an intelligence-led operation coordinated by the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit. The crackdown followed weeks of surveillance and analysis of suspicious online activity linked to youth radicalisation in parts of Sokoto.
Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ahmad Rufa’i revealed that during interrogation, the suspects admitted that they were initiated into the cult through a private WhatsApp group named “Red Chamber.” Investigators later discovered the group functioned as a covert cyber-cell designed to secretly recruit, indoctrinate, and coordinate illegal acts.
According to Police findings, the WhatsApp channel was used to attract unsuspecting youths and lure them into activities that included ritual practices, the pursuit of supposed demonic powers, acts of homosexuality for ritual manipulation, and violent thuggery.
Security officials noted that the group exploited the privacy and anonymity features of WhatsApp to avoid detection, using coded language, encrypted conversations, and layered administration to shield the identities of members.
DSP Rufa’i warned that such digital platforms have become hotspots for criminal and extremist recruitment, urging parents and guardians to intensify monitoring of their children’s online engagements.
“These groups are increasingly targeting young people who are vulnerable, impressionable, or seeking belonging,” he said. “Parents must remain vigilant because criminal elements now operate more in digital spaces than on the streets.”
Commissioner of Police Ahmed Musa, while confirming the arrests, emphasised that the operation was in direct response to growing public concerns over the rise of cult activities and unexplained violent incidents linked to the Sai Malam network.
He assured residents that the Police would sustain intelligence-driven operations and were already tracking more members who fled during the raid.
“This is only the beginning. We are committed to dismantling every part of this criminal organisation and ensuring that Sokoto remains safe for law-abiding citizens,” the CP stated.
Authorities urged community members to report suspicious online behaviour, adding that collaboration between citizens and security agencies remains vital in identifying underground networks that use technology to expand their reach.
The arrested suspects are currently in custody, while investigations continue to uncover additional layers of the group’s operations, including possible links to criminal cells in neighbouring States.
