May 14, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel News
Operatives of the Zone One Police Headquarters in Kano have arrested a 32-year-old Lagos-based suspect, identified as Richard Peter, over an alleged fake ushering job scam that targeted dozens of female students of .
The suspect was accused of luring 38 female students with promises of ushering jobs, only for their phones and personal valuables to allegedly disappear after they were lodged in a hotel in Kano.
According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer of Zone One Headquarters, Abdullahi Hussaini, the case was officially reported to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police on May 12, 2026.
Police disclosed that the victims, led by one Clementina Paul, submitted a petition accusing the suspect of deceiving them under the guise of offering temporary ushering employment opportunities.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Richard Peter, alongside an associate identified as Faith Dauda, allegedly invited the students to Mairabo Hotel in the Sabon Gari area of Kano on May 10, 2026, for what they claimed was an ushering assignment.
On arrival, the students were reportedly instructed to change into ushering outfits and leave their mobile phones and personal belongings behind, as they were allegedly informed that phones would not be allowed at the event venue.
The suspect later took the students to the hotel restaurant where food worth ₦6,000 was reportedly ordered for each of them before he suddenly disappeared without settling the bill.
After waiting for hours without hearing from him, the victims returned to their room only to discover that their phones and valuables had allegedly been stolen.
Police operatives, acting on intelligence and technical tracking, later traced one of the stolen phones to Kano Line Motor Park along Zaria Road. Investigators discovered that the suspect had already boarded a vehicle heading to Lagos State, but he was intercepted and arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Authorities confirmed that 29 mobile phones and other stolen items belonging to the victims were recovered from the suspect during the operation.
The suspect is currently being detained at the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department and is expected to face prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone One Headquarters, Kano, , commended officers involved in the operation for their swift intelligence-driven response.
He also advised young Nigerians, especially job seekers, to be careful when dealing with unverified employment offers and warned against surrendering personal belongings to strangers.
Ahmed further urged members of the public to always verify employers, event venues, and suspicious invitations before attending any engagement.
