Kaduna Police arrest man accused of impersonating governors, agency heads, and top security officials.
Recovered items include phones, SIM cards, and contact lists of powerful figures across Nigeria.
The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a 59-year-old man, Aminu Yarima, who is accused of impersonating top politicians and senior security officials across Nigeria for fraudulent purposes.
Yarima, who hails from Bichi Local Government Area in Kano State, was taken into custody on July 19, 2025, following weeks of careful surveillance and intelligence gathering. Detectives arrested him at his residence in No. 6 GRA Government Quarters, Keffi, Nasarawa State.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, the suspect admitted during interrogation that he had been pretending to be several influential figures. These include sitting governors, heads of federal agencies, and even the wives of prominent public officials.
Some of the identities he allegedly used include the Governors of Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Ondo States; the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); the wife of the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; the wife of the Kogi State Governor; the Inspector-General of Police; and the Force Public Relations Officer.
The police believe Yarima used these false identities to gain access to sensitive contacts and possibly manipulate situations to his advantage. A search of his home led to the discovery of several items suspected to have aided his operations. These include five mobile phones, 23 SIM cards, and multiple notebooks and diaries. The materials contained contact details of Chiefs of Staff to governors from all 36 states, along with numbers linked to traditional rulers, senior police and military officials, and other key personalities.
DSP Hassan confirmed the recovery of these items, stating, “The diaries and jotters held phone numbers of powerful officials, including Chiefs of Staff, Emirs, traditional leaders, and security personnel.”
Yarima is currently under detailed investigation and will be formally charged once the inquiry is completed.
Reacting to the arrest, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the officers involved in the operation. He described it as a major step forward in the police’s mission to track down impersonators and protect the integrity of public institutions.
The police also reassured the public of their continued dedication to ensuring safety and security in Kaduna State and across Nigeria.
