The Enforcement Unit of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has arrested six suspects for selling registered Sim Cards in Kano metropolis.

The NCC Head of Enforcement Unit, Mr Salisu Abdu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen shortly after arresting the suspects on Monday in Kano.

He said the suspects were apprehended during a raid at the Farm Centre, GSM Market and Yankura near Sabon Gari Market after conducting surveillance on the area.


“Before the arrest was made, we purchased registered Sim Card from each of the suspects,” Abdu said.

He said that the commission would continue to crack down on perpetrators of the illegal act as it was a criminal offence to sell registered Sim

“It is a criminal offence to sell registered Sim Cards to members of the public or for people to register new Sim Cards by proxy.

“The commission had in 2011 issued a directive that nobody should register new Sim Cards by proxy.’’


He said the suspects had since been handed over to the police for proper Investigation, adding that anybody found guilty of the offence would be prosecuted so as to serve as a deterrent to others.

Abdu noted that most of the kidnapping and other related cases could be linked to people patronising registered Sim Cards which did not bear the names of their original owners.

Abdu, who, restated the commitment of the commission to sanitising the system, said the commission had carried out similar raid in Minna and Abuja.