THE Kano State Police Command has arrested two men, parading themselves as journalists, for allegedly defrauding a rice trader of N33,000.

The 30-year-old suspects, Mujahid Kabir and Abba Imam, were alleged to have, on February 2, 2023, generated a fake bank transfer alert of N33,000 to buy a bag of rice at a Plaza at Sharada Quarters, Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Kano State.

The state police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said, “On 2nd February 2023 at about 1700hrs, a report was received from the Manager of a Plaza at Sharada Quarters, Kano Municipal LGA, Kano State that, two people went to their Plaza, purchased a bag of rice at N33,000 and generated a fake bank transfer alert to them.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command CP Mamman Dauda, psc(+) raised and instructed a team of detectives led by SP Abdulrahim Adamu, Divisional Police Officer, Sharada Division to arrest the culprits.

“The team immediately proceeded to the scene and arrested the two suspects while trying to escape, one Mujahid Kabir, “m”, 30 Years old, of Ahmadu Bello Way and Abba Imam, ‘m’, 30 years old, of Zoo Road Kano. On spot search, the suspects were found in possession of Vision FM Personnel Identity Cards.

“On preliminary investigation, the suspects confessed to having gone to Vision FM Radio station Kano, stole two personnel Identity Cards and made fake copies bearing their names and photographs. They further confessed to having gone to the said plaza at Sharada Quarters, bought a bag of rice and made a fake transaction with the cashier.

“The Commissioner of Police directed the case to be transferred to the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation. Suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.”

The CP advised residents to be wary of fraudsters and scammers, secure their bank details and report suspicious transactions to their banks.