Why we arrested blogger Abubakar Usman—EFCC

EFCC Operatives used to illustrate the story.
EFCC Operatives used to illustrate the story.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday said it arrested a pro-government blogger, Abubakar Usman, for alleged cyberstalking.

In a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday, the EFCC said Mr. Usman, a blogger and social media strategist known for his strong pro-APC views, was picked from his home in the Abuja suburb of Kubwa on Monday morning and was currently being quizzed by anti-graft agents.

The EFCC said Mr. Usman’s activities contradicted sections of the Cyber Crime Act, but that he had been granted administrative bail and would be released after successfully providing sureties.

The statement, was, however, silent on the specific sections of the Cyber Crime Act Mr. Usman breached.

The arrest of the blogger sparked condemnation from Nigerians on social media, with the “FreeAbusidiq” hashtag trending on Twitter for most of Monday.

If charged, Mr. Usman would be the third blogger to be arrested under the Cyber Crime Act, which was signed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Bloggers Seun Oloketuyi and Emmanuel Ojo were arrested in 2015 for offences that allegedly contravened the act.

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