The Department of State Services (DSS), Jigawa State Command, has received a petition over alleged threat to life, criminal intimidation, extortion, cyber harassment, and attempts to damage the reputation of a Jigawa-based figure, Mr. Zakari A. Sidi, popularly known as Zakari Kafin Hausa.
The petition, dated May 11, 2026, was submitted by Suleh Umar & Co., legal practitioners based in Dutse, on behalf of their client.
According to the petition addressed to the State Director of the DSS in Dutse, the petitioner had allegedly been subjected to persistent threats, harassment, intimidation, and extortion over the past two months through telephone calls and WhatsApp messages from unidentified individuals.
The legal firm alleged that the unknown persons repeatedly contacted their client through different phone numbers, claiming to know his residential address and those of his family members, while allegedly issuing repeated threats to his life.
The petition further stated that the threats later escalated to what was described as deliberate attempts to undermine the political ambition and public image of the petitioner.
According to the document, the callers allegedly threatened to destroy the reputation of Zakari Kafin Hausa and that of his family unless he complied with their demands.
The lawyers claimed that on May 10, 2026, one of the suspects allegedly demanded the payment of N500,000 from the petitioner and threatened that failure to comply would lead to the destruction of his political ambition “in a way he never imagined.”
The petition further disclosed that, acting on the advice of security officials previously informed about the matter, the petitioner reportedly feigned cooperation with the suspects in order to obtain useful information capable of aiding investigation and possible arrest.
According to the document, the alleged caller subsequently forwarded bank account details into which the money was to be paid.
The petition further revealed that by the morning of May 11, 2026, the suspects allegedly escalated their demand from N500,000 to N5 million.
The legal representatives expressed concern over the safety and reputation of their client, especially in what they described as an era of rapidly advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology capable of generating fabricated materials and manipulated media that could tarnish the image of innocent persons.
“In this era of rapidly advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, false materials, fabricated content and manipulated media can easily be concocted and disseminated to tarnish the image and hard-earned reputation of innocent persons,” the petition stated.
The petition urged the DSS to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities surrounding the telephone numbers and account details allegedly linked to the threats and extortion.
The lawyers also appealed to the security agency to trace, identify, and apprehend those behind the alleged intimidation and extortion attempts.
They further called for urgent intervention, citing what they described as serious security implications surrounding the matter.
A copy of the petition sighted by Prime Time News indicated that it was officially acknowledged by the DSS on May 11, 2026.
