For allegedly using fake ushering jobs to defraud students of Bayero University, a 32-year-old suspect, Richard Peter, is currently in police custody at the Zone One Headquarters in Kano.
The police also recovered 29 mobile phones and other items allegedly stolen from the victims.
A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the zone, Abdullahi Hussaini, explained that a petition submitted by a group of students led by Clementina Paul over the suspect’s activities led to his arrest.
According to the statement, the suspect, who is said to be from Lagos State, allegedly defrauded the affected students under the guise of offering ushering jobs.
On May 10, 2026, the police disclosed through preliminary investigation that the suspect, with the assistance of one Faith Dauda, invited 38 female students to Mairabo Hotel in the Sabon Gari area of Kano.
The victims were allegedly instructed to change into working attire and leave their phones and personal belongings behind after being told that phones were not permitted at the supposed event venue.
The police statement further revealed that the suspect later took the students to the hotel restaurant, ordered food worth N6,000 for each of them, and disappeared without paying the bill.
According to the statement, after waiting for several hours, the victims returned to their room and discovered that their phones and other valuables had been stolen.
The police added that one of the stolen phones was later traced to the Kano Line Motor Park through intelligence gathering and technical support.
The statement further disclosed that operatives moved to the location but discovered that the suspect had already boarded a vehicle heading to Lagos.
However, police operatives later intercepted and arrested him in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The police said 29 phones and other items belonging to the victims were recovered, adding that the suspect is currently being detained at the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department and will be charged in court upon completion of investigation.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone One, Garba Ahmed, commended the operatives for the swift operation and assured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting the public against fraud and related crimes.
NAN
