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Popular activist and political commentator based in Kaduna, Mahdi Shehu, has been reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) following allegations related to a misleading video that poses potential risks to national security.
According to a renowned counterinsurgency expert concentrating on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, Shehu was arrested over the weekend after the said video circulated widely on social media, raising alarms regarding its sensitive content.
Naija News reported earlier that the presidency slammed Shehu and accused him of attempting to cause anarchy in Northern Nigeria.
Shehu had recently made several allegations against the federal government about establishing a French military base in Nigeria’s northeast.
He also shared a series of videos claiming to show Nigerian and French troops offloading supplies in a coordinated operation.
Although Shehu promptly removed the video, it had already gone viral across social media platforms.
In a post via X on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, stated that Mahdi Shehu is hell-bent on burning Northern Nigeria with the use of old videos to pass off his allegation.
Dada warned Nigerians to beware of fake news merchants like Shehu.
Mahdi Shehu Is DSS Custody
In a publication, however, on Monday, Makama said Shehu is currently being held in custody in Kaduna and may soon face legal proceedings.
Makama quoted sources to have suggested that the charges pertain to the dissemination of outdated footage that inaccurately implied the Nigerian government was planning to establish a French military base in the North-West region.
He noted that authorities are said to have issued instructions for Shehu’s arraignment while ensuring that his rights are respected during his detention.
Furthermore, it has been highlighted that Shehu has a history of legal troubles, including a previous arrest for attempted extortion, as noted by former Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami.
Shehu’s legal representative argued that the arrest was politically motivated and linked to demands for an investigation into former President Muhammadu Buhari and his associates.
In contrast, Malami’s firm maintained that Shehu was detained for extortion and related offences.
