In a shocking case of fraud, Yusuf Idris, a 33-year-old Nigerian, was arrested by the Nasarawa State Police for allegedly defrauding job seekers using the name of the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Shehu Umar Nadada.
Idris is accused of tricking unsuspecting individuals by promising them jobs in the Nigeria Police Force and the Nasarawa State Hospital Management Board.
A Familiar Name for Deception
The suspect reportedly claimed to have strong connections with the influential Commissioner of Police, using the powerful name to convince his victims.
According to the police, Idris promised to secure jobs for the victims in exchange for large sums of money.
The First Victim and His Lost Money
One of the victims, Monday Akinde, a resident of Obi Local Government Area, is said to have been tricked into handing over N300,000.
Idris assured Akinde that he could secure a position for him at the Nasarawa State Hospital Management Board.
In addition to this, Idris allegedly convinced Akinde to bring in another person for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, claiming he had a slot from CP Nadada.
Idris offered the job slot for N500,000, further deepening his deceit.
The Arrest and Discovery of Fake Documents
On Sunday, the Nasarawa State Police made a breakthrough in the investigation.
Police operatives from the State Intelligence Department arrested Idris at the State Police Command Headquarters in Lafia.
When they searched him, officers found two fake promotion letters from Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital.
Idris claimed that he obtained these fake documents from Facebook to trick his victims.
Additionally, the police recovered the sum of N300,000, the money he had fraudulently obtained from Akinde.
Police Commissioner Urges Vigilance
DSP Ramhan Nansel, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, issued a statement about the arrest, urging the public to be cautious when seeking jobs.
“Police operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command attached to the State Intelligence Department have arrested one Yusuf Idris, who defrauded unsuspecting job seekers by using the name of the Commissioner of Police,” Nansel said.
He also warned Nigerians about employment racketeers who prey on job seekers, reminding them to be cautious about sharing personal information on social media.
A Warning to Others
In his statement, CP Shehu Umar Nadada condemned the actions of the suspect and reiterated his commitment to protecting the public from fraud.
He encouraged anyone who might have fallen victim to Idris’ scam to come forward with their complaints.
“The public should be wary of fraudsters and be mindful of posting sensitive information about themselves on social media,” CP Nadada urged.
He also issued a stern warning to anyone thinking of following in Idris’ criminal footsteps:
“Anyone caught attempting such acts will not be spared,” he declared.
The Growing Threat of Employment Fraud
This case highlights a growing trend of employment fraud in Nigeria, where scammers exploit the desperation of job seekers.
Fraudsters like Idris use false promises and fake connections to deceive vulnerable individuals seeking stable work.
These scams not only harm the victims financially but also damage the credibility of institutions such as the Nigeria Police Force.
The Role of Social Media in Job Scams
Social media has become a major platform for scammers to exploit innocent people.
Idris’ use of Facebook to obtain fake documents is a clear example of how fraudsters are leveraging online platforms to deceive the public.
The police have urged Nigerians to be cautious when engaging with strangers online, especially when it comes to sensitive matters such as job opportunities.
