Bauchi police hold suspect in N3m fake-alert appliance fraud

The Bauchi State Police Command has taken a suspected fraudster into custody in connection with the purchase of electronic appliances valued at N3 million using a fake bank alert, the command said. Police spokesperson Nafiu Habib announced the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday, November 7, 2026. He said the case formed part of the command’s work to safeguard businesses, break up criminal networks and ensure that fraudsters who target innocent traders face justice. According to Habib, every item taken in the transaction has been recovered, and police are still trying to arrest a second suspect who fled. The spokesperson said that on October 30, 2026, at about 1:30 p.m., a 65-year-old businessman living in New GRA, Bauchi, lodged a complaint at the ‘B’ Division GRA that two men had defrauded him. The complainant alleged that Alex Bwacha, 34, from Gombe State, worked with Bako Akin, of Jos, Plateau State, who is still at large, to carry out the fraud. Habib said the two men went to the complainant’s shop at Fire Service Junction, Bauchi, posed as genuine customers and then bought electronic appliances worth N3 million. The items listed by Habib were one Hisense 50-inch television, one Hisense 58-inch television, one TCL 43-inch television, one Hisense sound bar, two Hisense air conditioners and one LCT home theatre. The suspects allegedly sent a fake bank alert to the complainant as evidence of payment before leaving for an unknown location, the spokesperson added. “Upon receipt of the report, detectives from the ‘B’ Division swiftly swung into action and commenced a discreet investigation,” the statement read. Habib said Bwacha, the main suspect, was later arrested and some of the stolen goods were recovered from him. The investigation was extended to Jos, where the rest of the items were found, he added. “All the stolen items have now been recovered. The arrested suspect is in police custody, while efforts are being intensified to arrest the fleeing accomplice,” the PPRO stated. According to Habib, the suspect will be taken to court once the investigation is completed. He also said the state Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, praised the detectives for their prompt action and professionalism, which led to the arrest and recovery of the items. Habib cautioned criminals against using fake bank alerts and other fraudulent methods to cheat honest traders, saying the command would keep tracking, arresting and prosecuting offenders.