Expose: Syndicate Impersonated Law Enforcement to Extort Victims Across Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna
In a major security breakthrough, the Kano State Police Command has burst a notorious criminal gang of five fake officers who had been masquerading as policemen to extort money from innocent citizens across Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna States.
The suspects were nabbed in a special sting operation launched by the Command’s Special Intervention Squad (SIS) on Thursday, October 16, 2025, following credible intelligence that exposed their criminal network.
According to the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the fake officers often mounted illegal checkpoints and conducted phony patrols, using fake police IDs and handcuffs to intimidate motorists and traders.
> “The operatives acted swiftly and apprehended the five suspects while parading themselves as police officers,” SP Haruna said in a statement issued on Saturday.
The Arrest and Recovered Items
Those arrested include Aliyu Abbas (35), Sani Iliyasu (47), Ashiru Sule (41), Abubakar Yahaya (45), and Adamu Kalilu (45).
Recovered from the syndicate were a fake police warrant card, handcuffs, mutilated naira notes of various denominations, 2,500 CFA, and their operational vehicle, a blue Peugeot 406 with registration number NSR-188-BD.
Police sources said the gang confessed during interrogation to a series of crimes involving extortion, intimidation, and false arrest operations under the guise of legitimate law enforcement duties.
SP Haruna confirmed that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations are concluded. He added that the Command recently arrested another fake officer in September who had also been terrorizing residents through similar schemes.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, commended the operatives for their professionalism and assured residents that the Command remains fully committed to flushing out criminal impersonators and safeguarding public trust in law enforcement.
> “The Command will not tolerate any act of impersonation or illegality. We urge citizens to stay vigilant and report suspicious persons to the nearest police station,” the CP declared.
Residents have praised the police for the timely arrest, describing the syndicate’s activities as “a menace that has long dented public confidence.”
With this latest breakthrough, the Kano Police Command sends a strong signal to criminal impostors that no one can hide under the police uniform to terrorize citizens and escape justice.
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