The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a suspected cybercriminal and identity thief, Umar Yau, popularly known as “Snake,” over his alleged involvement in a string of internet frauds and impersonation cases.
The 25-year-old suspect, a resident of Yelwan Makaranta in Bauchi metropolis, was apprehended on June 5, 2025, following a technology-driven investigation triggered by a complaint from a victim.
Spokesperson of the Command, CSP Ahmed Wakil, in a statement on Friday, said the case began when one Mrs. Fatimah Faiz Ali Bawahab, an online businesswoman, reported being impersonated by the suspect on Facebook.
According to Wakil, the suspect created a fake account using the name and pictures of the complainant under the username “Amizeebaby Muhd” to deceive unsuspecting buyers into transferring money for non-existent goods.
“One of the earliest traced incidents occurred in March 2022, when a victim, Nafiu Muhd, transferred funds to a First Bank account bearing the name Hansatu Yau,” he said.
Further investigations revealed a consistent pattern of fraud linked to multiple bank accounts registered under the names Hansatu Yau and Umar Yau.
Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Sani Aliyu, detectives from the Command’s Monitoring Unit employed digital forensic tools to trace and arrest the suspect.
Items recovered from the suspect during the operation include nine ATM cards from different banks, an FCMB account opening form fraudulently filled with his sister’s details, two National Identity cards, three voter’s cards, three unused SIM cards, a ZTE 4G MiFi device, and a smartphone box.
Wakil disclosed that the suspect confessed to engaging in cyber fraud for over five years and admitted defrauding no fewer than 40 individuals through fake cryptocurrency schemes and deceptive marketing strategies.
“The suspect’s confession, along with the recovered exhibits, provides sufficient grounds for prosecution,” Wakil said.
Commending the investigators, CP Aliyu reiterated the Command’s commitment to eradicating cybercrime in the state and warned that anyone caught engaging in digital fraud would face the full wrath of the law.
The Command also advised the public to be cautious when transacting online and promptly report suspicious activities to the police.
