Oluwanifemi Ojo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Zamfara State has apprehended three individuals linked to fake currency worth N2 million.
The Punch reported that the suspects were caught printing, minting, and circulating counterfeit naira and dollar notes.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Ikor Uche, while parading the suspect said “the corps arrested the suspects for being involved in printing, minting and circulating fake naira and dollar notes to the public.”
The arrests were made on April 3 in Gusau while the suspects were attempting to use a fake N1,000 note to pay for transportation.
Uche said “Kamallu Sani, 28, Sulieman Yusuf, 29 and Uzaifa Muazu all of Tsafe Local Government Area, were arrested in Gusau on April 3 while trying to pay for transport fare to a Keke Napep rider with a fake N1,000 note.”
After the operator of the vehicle realized the note was fake, they raised the alarm leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Investigations conducted by the Command revealed that Kamallu Sani had been involved in the illegal business for one year.
The 28 year old Sani revealed that he was introduced to the trade by Ado Gurgu of the Tsafe Local Government Area, who took him to Muazu Abdulkarim of Kwartarkwarshi village, the person who supplied the counterfeit currency note.
Each N1000 counterfeit note was exchanged for N400 only.
The Corps found out that Uzaifa Muazu, son of the prime suspect, Muazu Abdulkarim, who was still at large, had been involved in the illicit trade with his father for more than three years.
Uzaifa Muazu confirmed that he had been receiving the fake currencies from Kano in the company of Ado Gurgu.
According to the report, operatives of the Corps traced the supplier to Kwartarkwarshi village where the prime suspect, Muazu Abdulkarim, directed his son to open a box containing fake currencies both in Naira and Dollars. The box contained N60,000 of fake currency alongside $2,600 of fake notes, totaling N1.92 million.
Commandant Muhammad Muazu advised the public to be cautious of such dishonest people. The Commandant also warned that the Corps would heavily clamp down on these criminals.
