Sokoto Police arrest three members of notorious “Sai Malam” cult group

The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested three members of the notorious “Sai Malam” cult following a targeted operation by the state’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

The arrests made on Friday night, come amid rising concerns over the group’s activities across the state.

According to a press release by DSP Ahmad Rufai, the Public Relations Officer of the command, the main suspect, Usman Shu’aibu, along with two accomplices, “have since provided detailed confessions regarding the group’s activities.”


Investigations revealed that the cult recruited members through a private WhatsApp group called “Red Chamber,” used to lure youths into criminal and immoral activities.

The statement further stated that the group’s activities include “witchcraft and ritualist practices, the pursuit of demonic powers, acts of homosexuality, organized thuggery and violence.”

CP Ahmed Musa, assured the public that the police are taking decisive action. “We want to assure the good people of Sokoto that we have been listening to their concerns. The arrest of these suspects is a clear demonstration that their calls for action have been answered. Our efforts have disrupted a key cell of this notorious group, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of every citizen,” he was quoted as saying.

The police also issued a cautionary message to parents and guardians, urging them to “actively monitor their children’s activities on smartphones and social media applications” and to “report any suspicious online activities or peer group influences to the authorities immediately.”

The command is intensifying efforts to apprehend remaining members of the cult group and encouraged the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and useful information.