By Our Correspondent

National News – The Zone One Police Headquarters in Kano has arrested a 32-year-old man, Richard Peter, over an alleged fake ushering job scam targeting female students of Bayero University, Kano.

The suspect was accused of deceiving the students with promises of temporary employment before allegedly stealing their mobile phones and personal belongings.

Police authorities disclosed that the suspect, said to be from Lagos State, was arrested after a petition was submitted by a group of affected students led by Clementina Paul.

According to the police, the victims claimed they were invited for ushering jobs that later turned into a carefully planned theft operation.

Investigators revealed that the incident happened on May 10, 2026, at Mairabo Hotel in the Sabon Gari area of Kano.

The suspect allegedly worked with an associate identified as Faith Dauda to invite 38 female students to the location under the guise of attending a job briefing.

Upon arrival, the students were reportedly instructed to change into work outfits and leave their phones and valuables behind because mobile devices were allegedly prohibited at the supposed event venue.

The police said the suspect later took the victims to the hotel restaurant, ordered meals worth N6,000 each, and disappeared without settling the bill.

After waiting for hours, the students returned to discover their phones and belongings missing.

Police operatives later tracked one of the stolen devices to Kano Line Motor Park through intelligence gathering and technical support.

Authorities said the suspect had already boarded a vehicle heading to Lagos before officers intercepted and arrested him in Zaria, Kaduna State.

A total of 29 mobile phones and other stolen items were reportedly recovered during the operation.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone One, Garba Ahmed, praised the officers for the swift arrest and warned Nigerians to verify job offers before sharing personal information or valuables with strangers.