The Zone One Police Headquarters, Kano, has arrested a 32-year-old suspect, Richard Peter, and recovered 29 mobile phones and other items linked to a fraudulent ushering job scheme targeting students of Bayero University, Kano, BUK.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Zone, DSP Abdullahi Hussaini, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, noting that the arrest followed a petition submitted to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
He said the suspect allegedly defrauded the victims under the guise of offering ushering jobs, adding that the police acted swiftly on the complaint.
Police said the case was reported on May 12, 2026, at about 10 a.m., when a group of students led by Clementina Paul submitted a petition alleging that the suspect had deceived and defrauded them.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, working through an accomplice identified as Faith Dauda, allegedly invited 38 female students to Mairabo Hotel in Sabon Gari, Kano, on May 10.
Upon arrival, the victims were reportedly asked to change into work attire and leave their phones behind, as they were told phones were not allowed at the supposed job venue.
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The police explained that the suspect later took the students to the hotel restaurant, where he ordered food worth N6,000 per person before disappearing without settling the bill.
After waiting for several hours, the victims returned to their room only to discover that their phones and other belongings had been stolen.
According to the statement, investigators used intelligence and technical tracking to trace one of the stolen phones to Kano Line Motor Park.
“By the time operatives arrived, the suspect had boarded a vehicle heading to Lagos but was intercepted and arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State,” the statement said, adding that 29 phones and other items were successfully recovered.
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The suspect is currently in custody at the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department and will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone One, Garba Ahmed, commended the operatives for what he described as a swift, intelligence-led operation, reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting citizens from fraud and related crimes.
He also advised members of the public to be cautious of unverified job offers, warning them not to surrender personal belongings to strangers and to always verify the legitimacy of employers and venues before attending any engagement.
