Suspected fake health workers have been arrested while conducting a medical outreach in Panshekara, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State.

The suspects were said to have distributed registration cards bearing the name of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) while collecting money from unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of providing medical services.

The arrest came as the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) intensified efforts to investigate proprietors of illegal health institutions in the state.

About 35 private Colleges of Health Sciences reportedly running unaccredited community health courses are currently under the searchlight of the anti-graft agency.

Confirming the arrest of the suspected fake practitioners, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar, disclosed that the operation followed credible intelligence received from vigilant members of the public.

According to Abubakar, the operation was conducted by the Kano State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA), the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), and the Kano State Police Command.

“We acted immediately upon receiving the report. A joint team from the Ministry of Health, PHIMA and KNCDC was deployed to the location, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

“We subsequently contacted the Kano State Police Command, and the suspects are currently in police custody at the Bompai Headquarters for further investigation,” he said.

The statement further quoted the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, as saying that the suspects were operating under the name Brother Paul Legacy Foundation, a purported non-governmental organisation, where they distributed registration cards bearing the organisation’s name and collected money from unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of providing medical services.

He further revealed that preliminary investigations conducted by officials of the Ministry of Health, PHIMA and KNCDC established that the mastermind and other suspects were neither qualified health professionals nor possessed any recognised health-related certification.

According to the commissioner, the registration cards issued by the suspects, which bear an address in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, falsely promised “free treatment” in an apparent attempt to lure unsuspecting victims into the illegal operation.

Yusuf urged residents to remain vigilant and refrain from patronising unlicensed individuals or self-acclaimed healthcare providers, emphasising that medical services should only be sought from government-approved health facilities and duly licensed healthcare professionals.

He also commended the Kano State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, , and his officers for their decisive intervention.

The commissioner further commended public-spirited individuals whose timely reports led to the arrest of the suspects, describing their actions as a demonstration of the vital role citizens play in safeguarding public health.

He called on members of the public to promptly report suspicious or illegal medical activities to the appropriate authorities, reaffirming the Kano State Government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating quackery, protecting lives, and ensuring that healthcare services across the state remain safe, ethical and professionally regulated.

Similarly, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) said investigations into the operations of private tertiary health institutions running unaccredited courses had commenced.

According to the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Sa’idu Yahaya, “The investigation was prompted by a petition submitted by the Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN) on June 22, 2026, and follows an earlier investigation that led to the closure of a private health training institution in Nasarawa Local Government Area on the same date.

“The exercise is designed to protect the public interest, safeguard students and parents from enrolling in unrecognised programmes, uphold professional standards in healthcare education, and ensure that only duly accredited institutions are entrusted with training future health professionals.

“The Commission is particularly concerned about the potential consequences of unregulated health training institutions, which may compromise the quality of healthcare services and pose risks to public health and safety,” Yahaya stated.

Meanwhile, independent investigations revealed that medical institutions fully accredited and certified by relevant regulatory agencies in Kano include Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital  (AKTH), and several other recognised institutions.