Unidentified men abducted prominent social media commentator Sarki Sultan from his home in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna in the early hours of Saturday, his family said, in the latest incident targeting critics of the government.
Sultan, who has more than 100,000 followers on X, has frequently criticised authorities over worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria. He recently called for the resignation of Defence Minister Bello Matawalle, accusing him of failing to tackle banditry.
Around 2 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), six men in two Prado SUVs forced their way into Sultan’s residence, flashed an identity card marked “SS” believed to refer to the State Security Service, and seized his mobile phone and car before taking him away, his wife told Reuters. She and their child were left behind.
There has been no claim of responsibility and no comment from the police, military or the State Security Service by midday Saturday.
Rights groups say security agencies have in recent months stepped up pressure on journalists and activists critical of the government, amid growing public frustration over persistent violence in the north.