US-Based Nigerian Professor Kperogi Uncovers Audacious Scam by Bayero University Student

A A US-based Nigerian academic, Prof Farooq Kperogi, has revealed that he fell victim to a sophisticated scam orchestrated by a student at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), highlighting a growing trend of online impersonation and fraud.

Prof Kperogi recounted the shocking ordeal in a detailed post, exposing how the scammer, who initially posed as a female student named “Halima Tahir,” deceived him into providing financial assistance multiple times.

According to Kperogi, “A few days ago, I shared the story of a scammer who claimed to be ‘Halima Tahir,’ a 300-level microbiology undergraduate at Bayero University, Kano, who scammed me into helping ‘her’ with tuition fees and other school expenses three different times.”

Further investigation revealed the true identity of the scammer: a male student named Ismail Saleh Sani, who studies Veterinary Medicine at BUK. Prof. Kperogi explained, “Ismail Sani is someone I had actually helped with tuition fees and other school expenses from 2024 through 2025, even though I didn’t know him personally. He initially claimed to be a Human Anatomy student at the Federal University in Dutse.”

Kperogi detailed how the scam unfolded, including multiple financial requests from Sani and the eventual use of the alias “Halima Tahir” to extract more funds. He said, “He even used my goodwill to allegedly help an old woman with a medical issue and later attempted to solicit funds for a so-called JAMB-coaching project. I ignored the bigger requests, but he persisted under the fake name.”

After confronting Sani with overwhelming evidence, Prof. Kperogi reported that the student denied wrongdoing. “I thought he would be penitent and apologize after I presented the proof, but he flatly denied it, even swearing by Allah, Ramadan, and every sacred symbol in Islam,” he wrote.

He warned that Sani had scammed others under multiple aliases, including his real name and the “Halima Tahir” persona. “He is clearly a dangerous, well-practiced scammer. Or perhaps he is mentally unwell. Whatever the case, he does not belong in polite society. He belongs in prison, or somewhere he cannot harm people,” the professor added.

He also appealed to Bayero University to take action. “I am sharing his details in the hope that Bayero University, whose proud alumnus I am, will act against this criminal who is dragging the school’s name in the mud,” he said.