The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly posing as a police officer and extorting members of the public in the state.
The suspect, identified as Nasiru Shitu of Kofar Waika Quarters, Kano, was arrested on Sunday, September 21, 2025, around 5 p.m. while dressed in what was believed to be a police uniform.
Police said Shitu was apprehended at Kofar Dawanau, an area where residents had lodged multiple complaints about the activities of fake police officers harassing people and collecting money illegally.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was not a serving police officer, nor a member of the Police Special Constabulary, but an impostor exploiting the uniform to deceive and extort the public.
The arrest, according to police authorities, followed sustained surveillance and community reports that pointed to Shitu’s suspicious activities in the area.
Police sources said the suspect allegedly stopped people under the pretext of conducting checks, before demanding money to release them.
The command explained that Shitu’s arrest was part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on criminal elements disguising as security operatives to commit fraud and extortion.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has directed that the suspect be charged to court once investigations are concluded.
He noted that the probe will also seek to uncover the full extent of Shitu’s activities, including whether he acted alone or in collaboration with others.
Bakori assured residents that the police are determined to rid the state of impostors and criminals undermining public trust in law enforcement.
He urged anyone with complaints or information about the suspect to come forward, promising that such reports would be treated with urgency and confidentiality.
The commissioner also advised residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, stressing that genuine police officers always carry proper identification while on duty.
The Kano State Police Command provided its emergency number, 07038188127, for residents to report incidents of extortion or other crimes in real time.
Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who signed the statement, reaffirmed that the command is committed to proactive policing and protecting the lives and property of residents.
He added that the arrest sends a strong warning to impostors and criminals who attempt to exploit the public
