The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says the three suspects recently arrested are “members of Gistlover syndicate”.
On Friday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, issued a statement wherein he revealed the names of the suspects as Adebukola Kolapo Nnedum, Micheal Somtomchukwu and Isaac Akpokighe.
The statement added that the suspects — between the ages of 25 to 30 — are running a microblogging platform known for “cyberstalking, incitement, blackmail, and sundry, which has over the years been a course for public outcry”.
Adejobi said they were arrested following a petition by one Seye Oladejo.
Pictures of the suspects — who were paraded at the force headquarters in Abuja — also circulated on social media.
Shortly after the report went viral, the publishers of the Gistlover blog dismissed the arrest while accusing the police of “chasing clout”.
“You guys are a big joke, is this how useless and senseless you guys are, big joke and clout just to prove what,” it wrote on Instagram.
“Bring one evidence wey una see say na those boys be Gistlover, make una do una mumu finish , ati arrester ooo ati petitioner ooo, all of una na lawsuit go jam una this new year, since you all have money to waste for court.”
There were also claims on social media suggesting that the police might have arrested “innocent citizens” — since the platform has been active since then.
But in a post via X on Saturday, the NPF clarified that the blog “is not run by a person but a syndicate called Gistlover family”.
The law enforcement agency also said that “the suspects arrested are not mere followers but are actively involved in various degrees of criminal conspiracies”.
“Contrary to popular opinion, the Gistlover blog is not run by an individual but by a syndicate called Gistlover family,” it reads.
“The suspects were arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation in a case of conspiracy, cyberstalking and, threat to to life.
“12 Gistlover pages were recovered from the suspects upon the conduction of digital forensic analysis.
“The suspects knowing fully well the criminal nature of the blog continued to conspire in causing pain to several law abiding citizens and violating extant laws.”
The statement said there is an ongoing investigation into the matter, adding that the suspects will soon be charged in court.
— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) January 6, 2024
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