A 32‑year‑old man identified as Richard Peter has been detained by police at the Zone One headquarters in Kano after a fraud scheme that targeted students from Bayero University, Kano. The operation, which masqueraded as a job‑placement for university ushers, resulted in the theft of personal belongings, including 29 mobile phones, from a group of female students.
The investigation began after a petition filed by students, led by Clementina Paul, highlighted the suspect’s activities. Police said Peter, a Lagos resident, lured 38 female students to the Mairabo Hotel in Kano’s Sabon Gari district on the pretext of a job interview. Upon arrival, the victims were asked to change into work attire and to leave their phones and other items at the front desk, allegedly because electronic devices were prohibited in the venue.
According to statements from the police public‑relations officer, DSP Abdullahi Hussaini, the students were then taken to the hotel’s restaurant where they each ordered meals worth about N6,000. After dining, the group waited for several hours before returning to their room, only to discover that their phones and other belongings had been stolen.
Investigators traced one of the missing phones to the Kano Line Motor Park using intelligence and technical support, prompting a rapid response team to the location. The suspects had already fled in a vehicle bound for Lagos, but police intercepted them in Zaria, Kaduna State, and arrested Peter there. In total, 29 phones and additional items were recovered and returned to the victims.
Peter is now in custody at the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department and will face charges pending the completion of the investigation. Assistant Inspector‑General of Police Garba Ahmed, who oversees Zone One, praised the swift action of the operatives and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting residents from fraud and related crimes.
The case underscores the vulnerability of students to employment scams and the importance of vigilant reporting. Police have urged the public to verify job offers through official university channels and to report any suspicious activities promptly. Further developments will be provided as the investigation proceeds.
