Police arrest man for alleged counterfeit currency possession

By Adeyanju Esther

A 62-year-old man named Tahir Ahmed has been apprehended by the Bauchi State Police Command on suspicion of possessing counterfeit currency.

A statement issued by the command’s spokesman, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, revealed that the suspect was found with a total of N238,000 in suspected counterfeit currency on August 8, 2024, while en route to Bauchi.

Wakil noted that a worried citizen from Jos North Local Government Area in Plateau State had shared a commercial Vectra vehicle with the suspect, who was travelling from Sabon Garin Narabi in Toro LGA to Bauchi.

He mentioned that during the trip, at Tilden Fulani market in Toro LGA, Bauchi State, Tahir Ahmed boarded the vehicle.

It was reported that the suspect was seen performing ritualistic chanting to allegedly convert some papers into what looked like new N1,000 notes, which aroused suspicion about the authenticity of the currency.

Upon reaching Bauchi metropolis near Yandoka Road, a concerned citizen alerted the police about the incident.

According to Wakil, “The suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation. He added that investigations are still underway to reveal further details about the case.”

He further noted that Commissioner of Police Auwal Musa Muhammad has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police overseeing the Criminal Investigation Department to obtain a forensic analysis from the Central Bank of Nigeria to confirm whether the suspected currency notes are genuine