Two men pretending to be university lecturers were arrested at Bayero University, Kano, on July 25, 2024.

The suspects, David Iluebe from Edo State and Chike E. Eke from Delta State, were caught selling books to first-year students and claiming to be part of the university’s Faculty of Engineering.

According to a statement from the university, “The Management of Bayero University, Kano wishes to inform the students and the general public to be wary of such impersonators and that surveillance has been beefed up in the University to avert the reoccurrence of such an ugly incident,” said Bala Abdullahi, the university’s Secretary of Information and Publication.

The suspects had entered a lecture hall and introduced themselves as lecturers, then threatened students to buy their books on English, Statistics, Nigerian People and Culture, and Algebra and Geometry Mathematics for their Continuous Assessment (CA). The students, fearing for their grades, bought the books.

Security operatives intervened after receiving reports about the impostors. During their arrest, the suspects admitted to all allegations, saying they were trying to earn a living due to job shortages. They also revealed this was their second attempt, having previously targeted Kano State Polytechnic.

Further investigation showed the books were of poor quality and likely pirated.