The Zone One Police Headquarters in Kano, Northwest Nigeria, has arrested a 32-year-old suspect, Richard Peter, over an alleged fake ushering job involving students of Bayero University, Kano.
The police also recovered 29 mobile phones and other items allegedly stolen from the victims.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the zone, DSP Abdullahi Hussaini.
According to the statement, the suspect, said to be from Lagos State, was arrested following a petition submitted to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police by a group of students led by Clementina Paul.
The students alleged that the suspect defrauded them under the guise of offering ushering jobs.
The police said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, through one Faith Dauda, invited 38 female students to Mairabo Hotel in the Sabon Gari area of Kano on May 10, 2026.
Upon arrival, the victims were allegedly asked to change into working attire and leave their phones and personal belongings behind on the claim that phones were not allowed at the supposed event venue.
The statement added that the suspect later took the students to the hotel restaurant, ordered food valued at N6,000 for each person and disappeared without paying.
“After eating and waiting for several hours, the victims returned to the room and discovered that their phones and other items had been stolen,” the statement said.
The police said one of the stolen phones was later traced to the Kano Line Motor Park through intelligence and technical support.
According to the statement, operatives moved to the location but discovered that the suspect had already boarded a vehicle heading to Lagos.
He was, however, intercepted and arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State.
“Twenty-nine phones and other items belonging to the victims were recovered. The suspect is currently in custody at the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department and will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation,” the statement added.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone One, Garba Ahmed, commended the operatives for the swift operation and reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting residents against fraud and related crimes.
The police also advised members of the public to be cautious of unverified job offers and avoid handing over personal belongings to strangers.
Source: punch newspaper
