The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old man, Adamu Musa, for allegedly impersonating a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and defrauding members of the public by falsely claiming to have influence over police recruitment, postings and transfers.
Confirming the report the Police Public Relations Officer, Kano State Command, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said Musa, of Kureken Sani Quarters, Kano, was arrested by operatives of the Panshekara Police Division on September 1, 2026, following a distress report received from the 52 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Challawa, Kano.
According to the command, the arrest followed credible intelligence indicating that the suspect had been parading himself as a senior police officer.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly targeted unsuspecting members of the public by claiming that he could secure recruitment slots, postings and transfers within the Nigeria Police Force in exchange for money.
The police said the suspect allegedly used digitally manipulated photographs and artificial intelligence-generated images showing him alongside senior commanders of the Nigeria Police Force to give credibility to his claims.
The images, according to the command, were circulated alongside the names of senior police officers to deceive prospective victims into believing that he had access to influential personnel within the force.
A search of the suspect’s premises led to the recovery of a pair of black jacket uniform, two pairs of black shoes, a camouflage uniform, a blue police uniform top and ₦300,000 in cash.
The suspect remains in police custody and is expected to be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
The Kano State Police Command warned members of the public against fraudsters and impersonators exploiting photo-editing and artificial intelligence technology to fabricate images with senior police officers and extort money from unsuspecting victims.
The command reiterated that recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force is free and warned that no police officer is authorised to demand money from applicants for enlistment, posting or transfer.
It urged members of the public to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a police officer, particularly individuals wearing police uniforms while soliciting money, and to report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station.
The command said it remained committed to protecting lives and property and would continue to prosecute individuals who abuse the identity, uniform and image of the Nigeria Police Force for criminal purposes.
