Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested six suspects in separate operations across the state over alleged fraud, cyber-related offences and possession of counterfeit currency, in a crackdown that has exposed a disturbing new trend in financial crime: the exploitation of citizens' National Identification Numbers to open fake bank accounts and steal their hard-earned money. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi'isu Adam, disclosed this in a statement issued in Dutse on Sunday, August 9, 2026, saying the arrests were made following intelligence-led operations that targeted fraudsters, cybercriminals and counterfeit currency dealers.
In the most shocking of the cases, operatives of the Miga Divisional Police Headquarters arrested Ibrahim Haruna, a 21-year-old Point-of-Sale operator from Miga Local Government Area, for alleged computer-related fraud. According to the police, Haruna allegedly withdrew N199,500 from a customer's bank account and transferred the funds into four different OPay accounts without the account holder's consent. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly obtained the victim's NIN details and used them to open a bank account without authorisation before carrying out the fraudulent transaction.
But the scale of the alleged fraud extended far beyond a single victim. The investigation further uncovered that about 16 bank accounts belonging to different customers had allegedly been compromised using the same method. Haruna has since been arraigned in court. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, raising urgent questions about the security of the National Identification Number system and the vulnerability of bank customers whose personal information can be weaponised against them with devastating ease.
In another operation, operatives attached to the Yankwashi Divisional Police Headquarters arrested Isa Ahmad, 36, of Rano Local Government Area in Kano State, and Sunusi Abdurrahman, 52, of Saudawa village, Ingawa Local Government Area of Katsina State, over alleged fraud involving N10.33 million. The police alleged that the suspects obtained the money from two victims at different times under the false pretext of producing United States dollars for them, but failed to fulfil their promise. "After receiving the money, they reportedly failed to deliver the dollars as agreed. A complaint was lodged with the police, which led to a discreet investigation, tracking, and eventual arrest of the suspects," the statement said. The command added that the case had been charged to court.
In a third operation, operatives of the Sara Division arrested three men over alleged possession and circulation of counterfeit naira notes. The arrests followed a complaint by a victim who alleged that he received a fake naira note from one of the suspects during a business transaction. The suspect's arrest and interrogation reportedly led to the arrest of two others allegedly linked to the circulation of the counterfeit currency. Police recovered suspected counterfeit notes totalling N50,000 from the suspects identified as Alhaji Sule, 45, of Tijiyo village, Buji LGA; Usman Ibrahim, 40; and Hayatu Usman, 35, both of Gantsa village, Buji LGA.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijjani Murtala, commended the officers for what he described as professionalism and vigilance, warning fraudsters, cybercriminals and counterfeit currency dealers that the command would continue to use intelligence-led policing to track and prosecute them. He also urged bank customers and financial service operators to protect their banking details, NIN information and account credentials, and promptly report suspicious transactions or unauthorised debits to the police. "Residents should exercise caution in handling their personal banking information, NIN details, and other sensitive financial data to avoid falling victim to fraudsters," the Commissioner warned.
The arrests come at a time when Nigerians are increasingly vulnerable to financial fraud, with cybercriminals devising ever more sophisticated methods to exploit the digital economy. The use of NIN details to open unauthorised bank accounts represents a particularly insidious form of identity theft, one that undermines public confidence in the banking system and the national identity database. The case of Ibrahim Haruna, who allegedly compromised 16 accounts using the same method, is a stark reminder that no one is safe from the reach of determined fraudsters. As the police continue their crackdown, citizens are urged to guard their personal information with their lives. In the digital age, your NIN is no longer just a number – it is the key to your financial future, and the thieves are watching.
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