The Department of State Services, DSS, has questioned and later released five Kano political figures following a petition by former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso alleging cyberbullying, intimidation and defamation against him and members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement. The development adds a fresh layer to Kano’s already tense political rivalry, where battles for influence have increasingly shifted from rallies and party structures to social media platforms. Reports said the five were invited by the DSS in Kano on Saturday, interrogated for several hours and then released on self-recognition, suggesting the matter remains under investigation rather than having reached any immediate prosecutorial stage.
Those questioned include Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, Director General, Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House; Ibrahim Adam, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information; Salisu Yahaya Hotoro; Nuhu Dambazau; and Mukhtar S. Yahuza. Their appearance before the DSS followed a petition dated April 10, 2026 and signed by Kwankwaso under the platform of the Kwankwasiyya Movement. In that petition, Kwankwaso accused certain officials linked to the Kano State Government of orchestrating persistent online attacks and coordinated defamatory campaigns, particularly on Facebook, against him and other leading members of his political camp.
According to The Guardian’s report, the petition alleged that the online activities had intensified in recent times and were capable of heightening political tension in Kano. It quoted the complaint as saying it had become evident that individuals allegedly occupying official positions in the Kano State Government were behind sustained cyberbullying and coordinated attacks. Kwankwaso reportedly asked the DSS to investigate the allegations and take appropriate steps, warning that such actions could undermine peace and stability in the state.
Dawakin-Tofa later confirmed the development publicly, saying he and others had been in DSS custody for about four hours before being released on self-recognition. He also indicated that the matter could proceed to court, though no formal charges had been announced as of Saturday. Just as importantly, there was still no official statement from the DSS at the time of the report, and no detailed response from the Kano State Government beyond confirmations from those invited. That leaves key questions unanswered, including whether the case will remain a preliminary security inquiry or develop into formal litigation.
The episode reflects the deepening political strain in Kano, where support bases loyal to Kwankwaso and to the current state government have increasingly clashed online. In that sense, the story is bigger than the brief detention of five aides. It is part of a wider contest over narrative, loyalty and control in one of northern Nigeria’s most politically consequential states.
