Chukwu Obinna 
KEBBI, Nigeria – Police in Kebbi State arrest a man accused of orchestrating a fake employment scheme that allegedly defrauds more than 175 job seekers of ₦5.2 million.
The suspect, identified as Hamza Sama, is taken into custody following complaints from victims who say they are promised government-backed school feeding jobs across the state. According to the command spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman on Sunday, Sama poses as an authorised recruitment agent and collects so-called “processing fees” from applicants.
Kebbi Police spokesperson SP Bashir Usman says preliminary investigations show the suspect collects ₦30,000 from each victim, assuring them the jobs are approved by government authorities.
“The victims acted in good faith,” Usman says. “They were convinced the recruitment was legitimate.”
Among those affected are Shafa’atu, Yusuf Yahaya (Baban Zaria), Hussai Sani, Ubaida Abubakar, and over 170 others, police say.
Detectives later confirm that no such recruitment exercise exists and that Sama has no authorisation from any government agency. “The suspect fraudulently obtained ₦5,200,000 through deliberate misrepresentation,” Usman says.
The suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court after investigations conclude.
Police warn job seekers to remain vigilant, noting a rise in employment-related scams targeting unemployed youths across the region.
“We will continue intelligence-led policing to arrest and prosecute fraudsters exploiting desperation,” the spokesperson adds.
The case mirrors recent reports of cross-border job scams, underscoring the growing vulnerability of job seekers amid high unemployment.
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