Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old cybercrime suspect known as Umar Yau, alias “Snake,” following a high-tech manhunt that exposed his online fraud activities and identity theft operations dating back to 2019.
The arrest came after an online businesswoman, Mrs. Fatimah Faiz Ali Bawahab, petitioned the police, alleging persistent impersonation and online scams conducted using her name and photographs.
The fraudster had reportedly been duping unsuspecting victims through fake Facebook accounts and fraudulent bank details.
In 2022, a man identified as Nafiu Muhd first raised the alarm when he was swindled after transferring money to a First Bank account bearing the name Hansatu Yau. Following the transaction, he was blocked, prompting suspicion of a notorious scam ring.
Matters worsened in early 2023 when several individuals contacted Mrs. Bawahab, claiming they had been defrauded by a Facebook account using her identity.
Payments were traced back to the same Hansatu Yau bank account, confirming a pattern of coordinated impersonation and fraud.
Detectives from the CP Monitoring Unit, acting on orders from Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, launched a discreet, tech-driven investigation. On June 5, 2025, the suspect was apprehended in Bauchi’s Yelwan Makaranta area.
During the arrest, the detectives recovered several items from the suspect, including:
Nine (9) ATM cards from various banks
A completed FCMB account opening form that was filled out without the consent of his sister, Maryam Yau, along with her academic documents
Two (2) National Identification Number (NIN) plastic cards bearing the suspect’s information
Three (3) Voter’s cards reflecting the suspect’s details
Three (3) new SIM cards from different telecommunications providers
One (1) ZTE Universal Mobile 4G MiFi device
One (1) Infinix Smart 9 smartphone box
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Spokesman of the Command, Ahmed Wakil, during interrogation, Umar reportedly confessed to defrauding approximately 40 victims, including those in the cryptocurrency space.
He admitted to operating multiple fake bank accounts and using aliases to lure victims into bogus online transactions.
Following his arrest, the State Police Command has handed over the case to the Kano State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
