Three youths in Shani Local Government Area of Borno State have allegedly been arrested by the police after publishing and sharing information on Facebook showing that the council received N3.11 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between January and June 2026.
The affected youths were identified as Salihu Yahaya, Haruna Mohammed and Muhammed Mallum.
According to sources close to the affected persons, the youths were allegedly arrested at the instance of the chairman of Shani Local Government Area after the Facebook post circulated online.
The post contained an image with the caption: “Shani Local Government Received 3.110 Billion Allocation From Federal Government From January To June 2026.”
The figure was based on an analysis of the monthly FAAC disbursement reports for Shani Local Government Area.
Sources said the youths were taken into police custody in Shani and subsequently threatened with transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or the Department of State Services (DSS) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The sources maintained that the youths had not engaged in any other activity apart from sharing or posting information concerning the local government’s allocation on Facebook.
The alleged arrests have reportedly triggered concern among young people in the area, with several youths taking to social media to demand the release of the affected persons.
One source said the youths were simply sharing financial information concerning the local government and should not have been arrested merely for circulating the figures.
“Our concern is that they only shared information about the allocation received by the local government. If the authorities believe the information is wrong, they should explain where the figures are wrong instead of arresting them,” the source said.
Another source said the development had created fear among youths who use social media to discuss issues concerning the local government.
The source expressed concern that the alleged arrests could discourage residents, particularly young people, from discussing public finances and government activities online.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the whereabouts and current status of the three youths could not be independently confirmed.
Efforts to reach the chairman of Shani Local Government Area for his reaction were unsuccessful. Calls and text messages sent to him were not responded to as of press time.
The police authorities in Borno State also could not be reached for their reaction to the alleged arrests, the identities of those detained or the reasons for their reported detention.
Meanwhile, figures contained in the monthly FAAC disbursement reports by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation confirm that Shani Local Government Area received a total of N3,110,132,578.97 between January and June 2026.
An analysis of the figures shows that the council’s allocation fluctuated during the six-month period.
Shani received N514.80 million in January as its total net allocation. The amount comprised N225.94 million in net statutory allocation, N12.07 million from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), N6.78 million in net share of ecology and N270.02 million in Value Added Tax (VAT).
In February, the council received N533.46 million. This comprised N184.33 million in net statutory allocation, N22.85 million in augmentation, N6.22 million in net share of ecology and N320.05 million in VAT.
The allocation dropped to N474.92 million in March, comprising N266.01 million in net statutory allocation, N7.98 million in net share of ecology and N200.94 million in VAT.
In April, Shani received N496.11 million. The amount included N274.29 million in net statutory allocation, N45.71 million in augmentation, N13.54 million from solid mineral revenue, N10.01 million in net share of ecology and N152.58 million in VAT.
The highest monthly allocation during the six-month period was recorded in May, when Shani received N551.90 million.
The May allocation consisted of N252.02 million in net statutory allocation, N57.13 million in augmentation, N9.27 million in net share of ecology and N233.47 million in VAT.
In June, the council received N538.95 million, comprising N325.28 million in net statutory allocation, N9.76 million in net share of ecology and N203.91 million in VAT.
The six-month figures show that VAT and statutory allocation constituted the major components of Shani Local Government’s FAAC receipts, while other components, including augmentation, EMTL and solid mineral revenue, varied from month to month.
The monthly allocations were N514.80 million in January, N533.46 million in February, N474.92 million in March, N496.11 million in April, N551.90 million in May and N538.95 million in June.
Cumulatively, the allocations amounted to N3,110,132,578.97.
The alleged arrests have consequently drawn attention to the treatment of social media users who publish or share information relating to government revenue and public finances.
Despite the confirmed FAAC figures, the specific reason for the alleged arrest of the three youths remains unclear, as the police and the chairman of Shani Local Government Area had not publicly responded to the allegations as of press time.
Chronicles Reporters could also not independently establish whether the three youths had been formally charged with any offence or whether they remained in police custody.