The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested ‎a blogger, Abubakar Sidiq Usman‎, over alleged cybercrimes. He is said to behind a special website which an EFCC operative told our reporter was allegedly in the habit of blackmailing public office holders with ostensibly damaging news reports to extort money from them. The website essentially encourages citizen journalism.

A statement from EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren on Monday said Usman was arrested ‎‎for offences bordering on cyber stalking.

He said ‎the suspect, who is the publisher of ‎Abusidiqu.com, was picked up at his Kubwa, Abuja home in the early hours of Monday August 8, 2016 by operatives of the EFCC.

He said Usman was currently being questioned over the alleged offence which contravened sections of the Cyber Crime Act.

Uwujaren ‎also said:” the suspect has already been offered administrative bail and would be released to his elected sureties.”

According to the publisher, “Abusidiqu.com is essentially about the people and the society, a platform geared towards influencing the way people think about everything. We are of the belief that if the people are conscious and aware of happenings around them, they will be able to make the society a better place for themselves and generations yet unborn and this can only be achieved through education and enlightenment.

“Abusidiqu.com therefore seeks to re-awaken the consciousness of the people and enlighten them in all spheres of human endeavour towards participating in the process of making our society a better place.  It desires to give a voice to the voiceless so that together, we can break away from the chains of poverty, deprivation, disunity, conflict and declining values in our society. Together we shall demand for leadership & good governance, justice, fairness, transparency & accountability amongst others and God willing, nobody is going to stop us”.