NIB Arrests Bawumia’s Bodyguard for Spreading Fake News Alleging VEEP Had Died

The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has reportedly arrested Mohammed Zakou, a bodyguard of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for the dissemination of false information.

Zakou, according to reports, was arrested sometime during the day on Saturday, April 12th, 2025.

Multiple reports on social media confirmes the arrest, with an NPP-aligned account on Facebook first reporting the news.

“They arrested two Patriots: Luq Mann and Mohammed Amadou Zakou, they released Luqman and they sent Mohammed to NIB Office,” Divine Ba Alhaji Gomez posted around 11:43 a.m. on Saturday, April 12.

More reports confirmed the news, with the charge against Zakou revealed to be the intentional publication of false information.

Zakou, a bodyguard of former Vice President and NPP 2024 presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shared a post on social media on April 4, alleging that current Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang had died.

The post followed a statement released on Sunday, March 30th, by the Presidency in which it was revealed that the Vice President was taken by a ‘sudden illness’ on Friday, March 28. The statement revealed she visited the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) for treatment and was advised to travel abroad for medical care.

Following her travel abroad, NPP-aligned political operatives started spreading rumours of her demise, with Zakou engaging in those activities with his April 4 post.

“Rest well your Excellency,” he wrote, accompanied by a photo of the Vice President.

At the time of publishing this report, Zakou remains in custody. Calls for his release among NPP-aligned accounts are intensifying, with opposition activists attacking the ruling NDC government for being intolerant towards dissenting views.