The Plateau State Police Command has arrested a suspected social media fake news peddler and 21 alleged members of the dreaded Sara-Suka cult syndicate terrorising residents of the Jos-Bukuru metropolis.

The development was contained in a statement signed by Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer on behalf of the Command, obtained by BusinessDay Saturday in Jos.

“The Command is pleased to announce to the general public that the originator of the viral TikTok video and his accomplice have been arrested by our operatives,” the statement said.

“It will be recalled that the video contained inciting comments capable of causing chaos within the state, but we have acted swiftly to prevent any breakdown of law and order,” it added.

Police identified the suspects as Mohammed Shuaibu Adam, 16, and Auwal Ilyas Abdullahi, 19, both residents of Rikkos in Jos, noting that they confessed to the crime during interrogation and would be charged to court after investigations.

The Command further disclosed that the arrests followed a viral TikTok video posted via the handle @townboii1, which had circulated widely on social media earlier in the month.

It added that in a separate operation, 21 suspected members of the Sara-Suka cult group were apprehended across various locations in the metropolis as part of intensified patrols and raids ordered to ensure a peaceful Ramadan.

The police assured residents of continued efforts to rid the state of criminal elements, urging the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies while going about their lawful activities without fear.

Nathaniel E. Gbaoron is the Plateau State correspondent for BusinessDay and a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering sub-national affairs across Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and other states. He holds both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko. Over the years, he has participated in numerous media trainings and workshops spanning various areas of reporting, strengthening his expertise in economic and political reporting, community-level governance, development stories, and conflict-sensitive journalism. He is a member of Correspondent Chapel in Plateau state, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he is also a Rotarian and a member of Plateau Club 1921.

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