The Niger State Police Command has apprehended four suspected fraudsters who posed as police officers to scam traders out of money and livestock in various markets.
The suspects—Aliyu Abbas (35) of Funtua, Katsina; Jibrin Idris (35) of Gwiwa, Jigawa; Musa Ya’u of Daura, Katsina; and Abubakar Yahaya (45)—were arrested on April 16, 2025.
According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the suspects were caught with a handcuff, N1.2 million in cash, cut-to-size papers, liquid chemicals used for counterfeiting currency, and two mobile phones. The investigation is ongoing.
“On 16th April, 2025 at about 3pm, acting on a credible intelligence that a syndicate of four men who specialized in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public in various markets around Niger State were sighted at Izom cattle market, planning to defraud a person after selling his cattle,” the statement read.
“Based on this, Police operatives of Maje Div mobilised to the scene and intercepted one black Mercedes Benz vehicle with Reg. No. KTU 747 HF with the following suspects; Aliyu Abbas 35yrs of Funtua, Katsina, Jibrin Idris 35yrs of Gwiwa, Jigawa, Musa Ya’u of Daura, Katsina and Abubakar Yahaya 45yrs of Daura, Katsina.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed to being fraudsters and a sum of one million, two hundred thousand naira was recovered from them. Other exhibits include a bunch of cut to size papers, liquid chemicals claimed to be used for counterfeit notes, handcuff, and two phones.
