The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a notorious impersonator who had been posing as high-profile politicians and security chiefs across the country to allegedly defraud and carry out other criminal activities.

The suspect, 59-year-old Aminu Yarima who hails from Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State, was apprehended after weeks of sustained surveillance and credible intelligence gathering by detectives from the command.

In a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan on Tuesday, the suspect was arrested on July 19, 2025, at his residence at No. 6 GRA Government Quarters, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

According to DSO Hassan, the suspect confessed to impersonating several top personalities in the country including sitting governors, heads of federal agencies and even spouses of prominent public office holders, during interrogation.

Over his years practicing his act, Yarima was said to have impersonated “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; The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).”

The police spokesperson also revealed that five mobile phones, 23 SIM cards, multiple diaries and jotters containing detailed contacts of senior aides to governors across the 36 states of Nigeria, and contact lists of traditional rulers, senior military and police officers, and high-ranking government officials were found in the residence of the suspect.

Hassan said; “Upon arrest, the suspect confessed to having impersonated several high-profile personalities, including the Executive Governors of Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Ondo States; the Chairman of the EFCC; the Chairman of FIRS; the wife of the late Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, the wife of the Kogi State Governor; the Inspector-General of Police; the Force Public Relations Officer; and several other prominent figures in Nigerian politics and security sectors.

“During a search of his residence, the following items were recovered: five mobile phones, 23 SIM cards, several diary books and jotters containing phone numbers of all the Chiefs of Staff to the governors of the 36 states across the country, as well as those of high-ranking federal and state officials, traditional rulers (Emirs and Chiefs), and senior police and military officers.”

The spokesperson noted that the suspect has been placed under intensive investigation and would be charged to court upon completion of the police inquiry.

While describing the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the command’s efforts to clamp down on impersonators, fraudsters and all categories of criminals bent on tarnishing the image of credible institutions in Nigeria, the State Commissioner of police, Rabiu Muhammad commended the operatives of the command.

The Commissioner further reassured residents of Kaduna that the police would not relent in their duty to ensure the security and safety of lives and property across and beyond.

He reaffirmed the command’s Commitment to ridding the society of fraudsters, impersonators and all sorts of criminals.