A friend of mine told me how he was intimidated, hoodwinked and bamboozled into parting with his money by tricksters in royal garb.
He was sitting in front of his house by the roadside when a big car screeched to a halt near his house. A palace guard (Dogari) came out of the front seat complete in his red and green gown as they normally dress. He bent down into the back seat window and appeared to be talking to an ostensibly well dressed and important looking traditional ruler adorned in his royal regalia complete with turban and all.
He then came towards my friend, greeted him and told him he was together with an important traditional ruler from Zamfara State, mentioning a high sounding title, which my friend couldn't even recall. He pointed at the man in the back seat of the car, who waved a hand holding prayer beads in greeting.
My friend immediately got up, went to the car and respectfully greeted the seemingly important traditional ruler. The royal father, who spoke Hausa with a heavy Zamfara accent, told my friend that he needed his assistance. That he came from far and had a little problem with the car, but unfortunately he had very little cash on him, could my friend help him?
Without thinking, my friend dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out some money which he gave the man. They thanked him and drove off.
It wasn't until several days later that my friend realised that he had been duped.
My friend was, this time, sitting by the roadside in front of his friend's house when the same car with the traditional ruler pulled over. The same palace guard came over and asked for the owner of the house. When he was told that the owner of the house had gone somewhere, the man in the car directed that he should be called on phone and be told that a traditional ruler from Zamfara had come to see him, mentioning his title.
That was when the nickel dropped in my friend's brain! He recalled the title and remembered that it was the same man whom he gave money a few days ago.
My friend, being a gentleman, didn't let on that he had recognized them. He pretended to make the call but told them the owner of the house was out of town. After they had gone, he told the people sitting with him what happened.
So if you see these kinds of people, don't get intimidated by their royal regalia. They are scammers!