BAUCHI – The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 62-year-old man, Tahir Ahmed, for allegedly printing fake naira notes.
The arrest follows a report by a concerned citizen who witnessed Ahmed allegedly transforming paper into counterfeit N1000 notes.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmed Wakil, the incident occurred on August 6, 2024, while Ahmed was traveling from Toro Local Government Area to Bauchi. A witness observed Ahmed performing what appeared to be ritualistic chanting while converting paper into new N1000 notes, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the currency.
Upon reaching Bauchi, the witness reported the incident to the police. Following interrogation, Ahmed reportedly confessed to the crime, and N238,000 in suspected counterfeit notes were recovered from him.
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Muhammad, has instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department to request a forensic analysis from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to determine the authenticity of the recovered notes.
The arrest highlights the ongoing challenge of counterfeit currency in Nigeria. The police are investigating the matter further to uncover any potential accomplices or larger network involved in the production and distribution of fake currency.
