The police in Borno State, acting under instructions from top political figures, are being used as tools of suppression against dissenting voices, especially young people critical of the APC-led administration.
The Executive Secretary of the Borno State Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), Engineer Adam Bababe, has used the police to arrest a man, Suleiman Usman—popularly known as Sultan—on allegations of cyberbullying and defamation.
Sources told SaharaReporters on Thursday that the 26-year-old was arrested on April 12, 2025, over what they described as baseless accusations, insisting he did not commit any act of cyberbullying.
According to a source familiar with the case, Suleiman’s arrest was politically motivated and allegedly directed by Bababe, a known ally of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“He was arrested on April 12, 2025 by the police commissioner, who is always dancing to the tune of one governor’s ally,” the source claimed.
“One Engr. Adam Bababe, who always directs police to arrest young persons who are not supporting the APC, is behind this. Suleiman is just the latest victim.”
The source further alleged that the police in Borno State, acting under instructions from top political figures, are being used as tools of suppression against dissenting voices, especially young people critical of the APC-led administration.
“This is not about cyberbullying. It’s about silencing a young man who dares to speak his mind. Suleiman didn’t commit any crime. He is being punished for refusing to toe the political line of those in power,” the source added.
When SaharaReporters contacted Adam Bababe, he accused Suleiman of persistent cyberbullying, spreading false allegations, and inciting public tension, which he described as a threat to his life and safety.
“Suleiman has consistently defamed me online,” Bababe stated.
“He has been cyberbullying me, sending false allegations, and continuously creating a security threat to my life. That was basically what pushed me to take legal action.”
Bababe explained that he initially ignored Suleiman’s actions until the individual went further by posting his photograph online with a caption accusing him of being responsible for Borno State’s problems.
“You know what that means in a place like Borno,” he said. “Accusing someone of being behind the insecurity or other issues can endanger their life.”
“The Penal Code in Borno, as reviewed in 2023, identifies defamation of character, cyberbullying, and public incitement as criminal offences. So, I filed a petition based on those provisions. This is not a civil matter. It’s a criminal case,” Bababe said.
Bababe suggested that the root of the online attacks may be tied to resistance against land reforms and anti-corruption efforts introduced by his agency.
He said, “A lot has happened in Maiduguri, especially around land administration. Before this administration, there was a lot of rot — land racketeering, scams, grabbing. Laws like the 1978 Land Use Act existed but weren’t enforced.
“We came on board in January 2020 to clean that up, and obviously, corruption fights back. People started pushing all sorts of allegations to discredit us.”
He said tensions have escalated recently as political transitions approach.
“As the government winds down, people are weaponising social media. Youths with TikTok and other platforms are being approached and used to push false narratives. It’s getting so bad that sometimes you can’t even move around town freely,” he added.
Bababe revealed that Suleiman began posting defamatory content about him in September 2024 and continued doing so for months.
“He kept putting up my pictures alongside insults and false allegations. I stayed quiet and watched from a distance,” he said.
“But the height of it was when he said I was a disaster and responsible for all the state’s problems. That’s not something anyone should overlook.”
He explained that he documented all of Suleiman’s social media posts, taking screenshots and saving them before they were deleted.
“We compiled all the evidence and submitted it to the police. I said, ‘Enough is enough.’”
Bababe said that when Suleiman was arrested, his lawyer called him to apologise on his behalf and urged Bababe to treat it as a civil matter.
“He said if I felt defamed, I should seek damages in a civil suit. I told him, ‘Fine, I’ll speak with my solicitor,’” Bababe noted.
However, his solicitor informed him that the matter falls under criminal law.
“Defamation, cyberbullying, and incitement — they’re all criminal under the revised Borno Penal Code,” Bababe explained.
But Suleiman’s lawyer persisted, arguing the matter should be civil.
“When he couldn’t convince me, he threatened me,” Bababe claimed.
“He said he would ‘pull me down by whatever means’ and fight for the boy’s rights. I told him, ‘Go ahead — God is with the truthful.’”
However, Bababe clarified that while he might forgive Suleiman personally, the matter is now beyond just him.
“It’s not about whether I grant him bail. That’s the job of the police and the courts. I can only say whether or not I’m withdrawing my case — and I haven’t,” he said.
“Parents are everything. My mother cries when she sees those posts about me. If he has rights, I do too. If I had committed a crime, I would accept it. But I haven’t.”
When asked if he would consider withdrawing the case to ease tensions, Bababe responded, “Tension from who? It’s the lawyer who’s instigating tension. You expect soft words from the opposition? Only a fool expects kindness from an adversary.”
He insisted that no one should be threatened for exercising their rights.
“If this had been the other way around, no one would listen to me. Let’s be honest. But I’ve heard him, and I’ve seen him plead. If it were just between me and him, I’d consider it. But his lawyer said he would destroy me — that’s why I’m pursuing the case to the end.”
Bababe reiterated that he wants justice, not revenge.
“Let him prove his threat in court. I want this case to be an example. You don’t destroy someone’s life online and walk away like nothing happened,” he said.