A Jos, Plateau State-based man, Sulaiman Yakub, currently in police custody for incitement during the August 1 to 10 hunger protest has expressed regret over his action, saying that all he wanted to gain were ‘followers and likes’ on his TikTok page. Yakub, a 28-year-old who claimed to be a Chemical Engineering graduate, was arrested by the police for instigating violence in his TikTok video that went viral. Briefing the press after the suspect’s arrest, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said: “As you are all aware, a video recently went viral on TikTok, where an individual incited violence against state critical infrastructure, law enforcement agencies and private individuals in Plateau State, in connection with the planned nationwide protest.
“The video, originating from a TikTok account identified as “Dan_Mallam68,” showed the suspect provocatively urging the public to attack petrol stations, security operatives, and destroy critical state and private infrastructure.” Speaking on Yakub’s arrest: the FPRO said: “Upon receiving this information, the Nigeria Police Force in Plateau State, with support from relevant stakeholders, traced the suspect’s location to Ahmadu Bello Way. On 28th July, 2024, Sulaiman Yakub, a resident of Jos North, was successfully apprehended.
“During interrogation, Yakub confessed to being the individual in the viral video but has not been able to explain his motivation for such statements with severe criminal implications. He is currently in police custody as we continue our investigations.” Saturday Tribune was at the IRT unit in Abuja where an interview with the suspect was held.
He gave his narration thus: “My name is Sulaiman Yakub. I’m 28 years old. I am from Bauchi State but live in Jos, Plateau State.
I’m into phone business, selling new and fairly used ones. I also sell phone accessories. “I’m a content creator.
I’m into TikTok content. I didn’t have much followers. I then sat and thought of what would bring me more followers and likes, because I used to be paid by Tiktok.
I’ve been on Tiktok for about three years. “I decided to talk about the protest issue coming up in Nigeria. I didn’t even know the exact day it would commence, so I just brought what we use for live video.
I started talking that protesters should burn down petrol stations the first day. I did this on Saturday, but July 27, at almost 9pm. “I told them that if there is no solution the following day, they should go to bakeries and burn down the places.
On the third day, I told them to go to the major market in Jos and burn it down. On the fourth day, if police, soldiers or other security forces shoot anyone because of the protest, they should go to the nearest police stations around them and burn them down. “I released the video at about 9pm.
The following morning, at about 6am, I got a call from a friend who has a shop close to mine. He questioned me on what I put on TikTok. He asked whether I knew that it would put me in trouble.
That was when I got a brain reset. I recalled what I did and told him I was sorry. I quickly went to my account on Tiktok and deleted it, not knowing it had gone viral.
“I didn’t know that security forces had started looking for me. On Sunday, July 28, I went to the market. On reaching my shop, police came to arrest me.
” When asked whether he knew the implication of what he said, Sulaiman answered: “To be honest, I just said those things just for the sake of saying something. If I had known that it would land me where I am now, I wouldn’t have made the video. “I’ve been on Tiktok for a long time and if you go through my page, I have never ever posted anything related to government, not to talk of protest.
I don’t know what exactly pushed me to make that kind of video. Since I have been arrested, I’ve regretted my action.” Was he not aware of negative things that came from previous protests, he said was not.
He also explained the video he was seen in dancing and spraying money in a club, saying that he loves luxury life. “I work hard to earn my own money. I don’t go to club every day.
It was the video I made during my birthday in June, and I posted it on social media,” Yakub stated. He added: “I didn’t mean what I said on TikTok. I just wanted to gain followers and get likes from them.
“I’m deeply sorry and regretted what I posted.” The suspect said that he studied Chemical Engineering at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State and went for National Youth Service programme in 2021. READ ALSO: Suspected ritualist sells human skull, legs for N70,000 in Ibadan.
