The Niger State Police Command has arrested a man posing as an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari to dupe unsuspecting job seekers of over N4.2 million.
Kabiru Mohammed, 37, allegedly defrauded 14 job applicants in Gurara Local Government Area.
The suspect, it was learnt, deceived his victims by telling them that his boss, who is purportedly one of the Special Advisers to President, had the capacity to secure employment for them in the police, the Nigeria Customs Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Navy, Air Force, Nigeria Immigration Services and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The victims – Atahiru Tukura, Bello Abubakar, Mohammed Hussaini, Rabiu Tukura, Umar Danladi, Jibrin Shagabe, Zubairu Danladi, Halidu Musa, Basiru Usman, Mustaph Shehu, Ibrahim Mustaph, Yusuf Ibrahim, Adamu Mohammed and Ahmed Salihu – said they paid between N100,000 and N800,000 to Mohammed.
The police also arrested Ishaya Christopher for allegedly printing fake employment letters and identity (ID) cards.
Mohammed, the police said, confessed that he acted as an intermediary between his unnamed boss and the victims.
“Frankly speaking, I thought it was genuine, after all, nothing is impossible in Nigeria. A lot of people I know have got jobs through the back doors like this. I never knew that it was fake. It is unfortunate.
“Ninety-five per cent of jobs in Nigerian are got through the same way, or is it because these did not work out and they labelled me criminal? But if it had worked out, I would have become a hero, a man who can get jobs at will for applicants,” the suspect reportedly said.
Kabiru, the police said, did not regret his action, as he reportedly regretted that his dream of getting huge amounts of money was dashed.
“I have nothing to regret, but my only regret was that it did not work out as planned and my hope of getting huge amount of money was dashed out,” the police quoted him as saying.
Police spokesman Muhammad Abubakar said the suspect confessed to have committed the offence with Peter James, who is said to be on the run.
