Bauchi – Bauchi Police Command has apprehended a 62-year-old man, Tahir Ahmed, for allegedly producing counterfeit naira notes. The arrest took place following a suspicious incident involving a commercial vehicle traveling from Plateau State to Bauchi.
According to a press release from the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, the arrest occurred on August 6, 2024. The operation began when a concerned citizen from Jos North LGA, Plateau State, boarded a Vectra vehicle in Sabon Garin Narabi Toro LGA, Bauchi State, heading towards Bauchi. During the journey, Ahmed, who had joined the vehicle at Tilden Fulani Market in Toro Local Government Area, allegedly engaged in ritualistic chanting and transformed some papers into what appeared to be new one thousand naira notes.
Suspicion was raised when Ahmed’s actions and the appearance of the notes drew attention. The vehicle arrived in Bauchi metropolitan around Yandoka Road, where a good Samaritan reported the suspicious behavior to the police.
Following Ahmed’s arrest and interrogation, he confessed to the crime. The police recovered a total of 238,000 naira in suspected counterfeit notes from him.
The Police Public Relations Officer indicated that investigations are ongoing. Commissioner of Police Auwal Muhammad has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department to request forensic analysis from the Central Bank of Nigeria to verify the authenticity of the recovered currency.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts of the Bauchi Police Command to combat financial crimes and maintain the integrity of the national currency.