The Kebbi State Police Command has dismissed claims that the group popularly known as “Sai Malam” is a designated terrorist organisation, saying investigations into its activities have not established any terrorism-related offences.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Bashir Usman, said the command was aware of reports alleging the group’s resurgence in parts of Argungu Local Government Area and had commenced investigations using actionable intelligence to verify the claims.
The police clarified that individuals arrested in Zuru in February 2026 were investigated and prosecuted for alleged criminal offences, not terrorism.
“Those arrested in relation to the crime in Zuru last February were investigated for alleged criminal offences and not on terrorism,” the statement said.
According to the command, items recovered from the suspects included suspected counterfeit currencies of various countries, including the Nigerian naira, United States dollar, CFA franc and Libyan dinar, as well as suspected ritual or occult objects and other related materials.
It added that no firearms were recovered from the suspects during the investigation.
The clarification follows reports and social media claims alleging that the “Sai Malam” group had resurfaced in Argungu Local Government Area as a terrorist organisation, with some reports linking the allegations to the February arrests in Zuru Emirate.
However, the police maintained that investigations into the earlier arrests did not establish any terrorism-related offences, stressing that the suspects were prosecuted over alleged criminal activities involving counterfeit currencies and suspected ritual items.
The command said the ongoing investigation is aimed at verifying the latest claims and identifying anyone involved in criminal activities, while cautioning against the spread of unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic.
It reaffirmed its commitment to combating all forms of crime and maintaining law and order across the state, assuring residents that anyone found engaging in criminal acts would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The police also urged members of the public to remain calm and continue supporting security agencies with credible information to aid ongoing investigations and enhance public safety.
