The Kano State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a notorious syndicate accused of impersonating Police officers and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Command’s Special Intervention Squad (SIS) following credible intelligence that exposed their illegal activities across parts of Northern Nigeria.
The arrest, which took place on October 16, 2025, around 1:00 p.m., was part of the Command’s ongoing efforts to curb rising cases of criminal impersonation and extortion in the State.
Those arrested include 35-year-old Aliyu Abbas, 47-year-old Sani Iliyasu, 41-year-old Ashiru Sule, 45-year-old Abubakar Yahaya, and 45-year-old Adamu Kalilu.
According to the Police, the suspects were caught while parading themselves as officers of the Nigeria Police Force in an attempt to deceive members of the public.
Items recovered from the suspects include a fake Police Warrant Card, a pair of handcuffs, and a blue Peugeot 406 car with registration number NSR-188-BD, which they allegedly used for their operations.
Other exhibits recovered from them were 2,500 CFA currency notes and several mutilated naira notes of different denominations believed to have been used in their illegal dealings.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to multiple acts of impersonation and extortion in Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna States.
They also admitted to using the counterfeit Police identification to stop and harass citizens, collecting money from victims under false pretences.
Police sources said the suspects had been operating as a team for some time, deceiving people into believing they were genuine security operatives.
The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD, described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the Command’s fight against criminality and fraud.
He reaffirmed the Command’s determination to rid the State of criminal elements who engage in acts that tarnish the image of the Police and threaten public confidence.
CP Bakori warned that the Police would not condone any form of impersonation or criminal activity capable of undermining peace and security in the State.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest Police Station or through the Command’s emergency hotlines: 08032419754, 08123821575, and 09029292926.
The suspects, according to the Police, will be charged to court upon the completion of a thorough investigation.
