The Kano State Police Command has apprehended a suspected fraudster, Aminu Abdullahi, 50, who has been duping traders using fake bank alerts and posing as a relative of renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya.
In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, Abdullahi was accused of exploiting his physical resemblance to the respected scholar to defraud unsuspecting victims. The suspect reportedly collected goods worth over N2 million from traders under false pretenses.
The arrest followed a complaint from Sunusi Aminu, a trader in Gwale Quarters, Kano, who alleged that on November 22, 2024, the suspect visited his shop, claimed to be Sheikh Gadon Kaya’s younger brother, and collected two cartons of spaghetti valued at N35,000.
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Abdullahi then manipulated a fake transaction alert to deceive the shopkeeper into believing payment had been made.
After realizing the transaction was fraudulent, Sunusi reported the incident to the police. Acting on the report, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, instructed a team led by SP Abdulrahim Adamu, the Divisional Police Officer of Gwale Division, to investigate.
The team quickly arrested the suspect, identified as a resident of Kofar Nassarawa Quarters, Kano.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Abdullahi had no familial ties to Sheikh Gadon Kaya. He confessed to exploiting his resemblance to the scholar to gain the trust of shop owners and merchants, defrauding at least 20 victims. Goods worth over N2 million were reportedly obtained using the same fraudulent method.
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The case has been transferred to the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation.
Police have called on additional victims or anyone with complaints against the suspect to report to the Command Headquarters or contact the investigation team via 08166999948.
The Commissioner of Police has assured residents that the suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation. He also urged the public to remain vigilant against impostors and report any suspicious activities.
In case of emergencies or suspicious persons, residents can contact the Kano State Police Command through 08032419754, 08123821575, or 09029292926.
The police appreciated the community for their cooperation and support in maintaining security in the state.