The Bauchi Police Command has arrested a 62-year-old man, Tahir Ahmed, for allegedly producing fake naira notes.
The arrest was announced by Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, in a press release on Tuesday.
According to Wakil, on August 6, 2024, a concerned citizen from Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, boarded a commercial Vectra vehicle in Sabon Garin Narabi Toro Local Government Area, Bauchi State. The vehicle was heading to Bauchi.
“At Tilden Fulani Market in Toro Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Tahir Ahmed, a 62-year-old man, stopped the vehicle and joined the journey to Bauchi,” Wakil said.
During the journey, Ahmed was suspected of transforming some papers into new one thousand naira notes through what appeared to be ritualistic chanting. This raised concerns that the notes might be counterfeit.
Upon reaching Bauchi metropolitan around Yandoka Road, a good Samaritan reported the incident to the police. After questioning, Ahmed reportedly admitted to the crime. The police recovered 238,000 naira in suspected counterfeit notes from him.
Wakil added, “Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details related to this incident. The Police Commissioner, Auwal Muhammad, has instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department to send a request letter to the Central Bank of Nigeria for forensic analysis to determine the authenticity of the suspected currency notes.”
