The Kano State Police Command has apprehended a 27-year-old man, Mohammed Usman of Kofar Wambai Quarters, for allegedly deceiving unsuspecting residents, mostly women, and stealing their mobile phones under false pretenses.
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According to a press release issued by the command on Saturday, Usman was arrested on July 14 after a woman from Ahmadiyya Brigade Quarters reported that he called her from an unknown number, claiming to offer government intervention support. She agreed to meet him, but he allegedly fled with her phone during the encounter.
Following the initial complaint, 17 other women came forward with similar stories, revealing a pattern of fraudulent activity targeting females across the state.
Further investigations showed that the suspect is an ex-convict, previously sentenced to two years in prison for a related offense. He is currently in custody at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where his arrest led to the apprehension of three other suspects believed to be buyers of the stolen phones. Police say eight mobile phones were recovered during the operation.
Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD, thanked residents for their support and urged the public to be cautious of unsolicited offers from unknown sources. He also encouraged other victims of similar scams to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.
