Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Zaria, Nigeria – A 32-year-old man, Richard Peter, has been arrested by the Zone One Police Headquarters in Kano for orchestrating an elaborate scam that lured 38 female students of Bayero University, Kano, with the promise of ushering jobs, only to steal their mobile phones and personal belongings after treating them to a meal they never asked for. The suspect, originally from Lagos State, was tracked and apprehended in Zaria, Kaduna State, as he attempted to flee back to Lagos following the incident.
The elaborate deception began on May 10, 2026, when the students were invited to the Mairabo Hotel in the Sabon Gari area of Kano. Acting through an accomplice identified as Faith Dauda, the suspect instructed the students to change into work attire and leave their phones and other valuables behind, claiming that electronic devices were not permitted at the supposed event venue. The trusting students complied.
After the students had handed over their belongings, Peter reportedly led them to the hotel restaurant, where he ordered food valued at ₦6,000 for each person. Following the meal, the suspect excused himself and disappeared without paying the bill. The students waited for hours before realising they had been deceived. When they returned to the room where they had been told to change, they discovered that their 29 mobile phones and other personal items had been stolen.
The victims, led by a student named Clementina Paul, filed a formal petition to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police on May 12, 2026. Acting on intelligence and technical support, police traced one of the stolen phones to the Kano Line Motor Park. By the time operatives arrived, the suspect had already boarded a vehicle heading for Lagos. However, he was intercepted and arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Zone One Police Headquarters confirmed the arrest in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Hussaini. He disclosed that the suspect remains in custody at the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations. Police also recovered the 29 stolen phones and other items belonging to the victims.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone One, Garba Ahmed, commended the operatives for the swift, intelligence‑led operation. He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting citizens from fraud and other criminal activities. The AIG also advised members of the public to be cautious of unverified job offers. “Do not surrender personal belongings to strangers, and verify the legitimacy of employers and venues before attending any engagement,” the AIG warned. “Suspicious activities should be reported promptly to the nearest police division.”
The case highlights the growing sophistication of employment scams targeting students and young job seekers in Nigeria. While the police continue to investigate the role of the accomplice, Faith Dauda, who remains at large, the incident serves as a stark reminder that not every job opportunity is what it seems. As the suspect awaits his day in court, the 38 students who walked into the trap are left counting their losses, wiser but poorer, their hopes of earning a living replaced by the bitter taste of betrayal.
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