Bauchi Police Nab Notorious Cyber Fraudster Known as "Snake"
June 12, 2025 | Bauchi State
By Abdulwahab Muhammad BauchÃ
In a major breakthrough in the fight against cybercrime, the Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a well-known identity thief and online fraudster, Umar Yau, also known by the alias "Snake", a 25-year-old resident of Yelwan Makaranta, Bauchi.
The arrest follows a detailed investigation prompted by a petition from Mrs. Fatimah Faiz Ali Bawahab, a well-known online entrepreneur, who fell victim to an elaborate fraud scheme that not only stole her identity but also swindled numerous unsuspecting individuals across Nigeria.
A Web of Deceit
According to the petition, the suspect had been impersonating Mrs. Bawahab on Facebook using her name and photos to scam innocent users by offering fake business deals. The fraudulent activities date back to March 2022, when one Nafiu Muhd raised an alarm after being duped by a Facebook user named "Amizeebaby Muhd", who requested payments into a First Bank account under the name Hansatu Yau. After making the payment, Mr. Muhd was blocked, a clear sign of a scam in motion.
The situation escalated in early 2023 when several victims reached out to Mrs. Bawahab, suspecting she had defrauded them. It was then discovered that a Facebook account had been created using her personal details to carry out a series of financial scams.
In a bid to unmask the perpetrator, Mrs. Bawahab began interacting with the impersonator, who continued to insist on payments through accounts in the names Hansatu Yau and Umar Yau, using banking platforms such as First Bank, PalmPay, and Momo Payment Service Bank.
Smart Investigation, Swift Arrest
Acting on the petition, CP Sani-Omolori
Police investigations revealed that Umar Yau had been involved in online fraud since 2019, operating several fraudulent bank and payment accounts to defraud victims across different platforms.
What Was Recovered
During the arrest, several incriminating items were found in Umar Yau’s possession, including:
- 9 ATM cards from various banks
- A forged FCMB account opening form, filled with the identity and academic documents of his sister, Maryam Yau
- 2 National Identity Cards (NIN) in his name
- 3 Voter's cards carrying his personal details
- 3 brand-new SIM cards from different mobile networks
- A ZTE 4G MiFi device
- A smartphone box for an Infinix Smart 9
A Career Criminal Confesses
During interrogation, Umar confessed to a five-year run of cyber fraud, admitting that he had duped over 40 victims, particularly through fake cryptocurrency investment schemes. His scams spanned across social media platforms, targeting vulnerable individuals with too-good-to-be-true offers and counterfeit business deals.
Police Reaffirm Commitment
Reacting to the arrest, Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu reassured the public of the Command’s unwavering commitment to tackling cybercrime and internet fraud. He issued a strong warning against such criminal behavior, stating that the law would take its full course against offenders.
Following the preliminary investigation, the Bauchi Police Command has handed over the case and suspect to the Kano State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.
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