A 62-year-old man, identified as Tahir Ahmed, has been detained by the Bauchi State Police Command for allegedly converting papers into what appeared to be new one-thousand-naira notes.
Disclosing this in a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakili, said a concerned citizen reported the situation to the police and explained that the alleged incident took place while Ahmed was travelling from Sabon Garin Narabi, Toro LGA, Bauchi State, to Bauchi metropolitan.
Ahmed joined a commercial Vectra vehicle in Tilden Fulani Market, Toro LGA. During the journey, he reportedly engaged in what witnesses described as ritualistic chanting, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of the currency.
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Following Ahmed’s arrest, he confessed to police officers who seized the sum of ₦238,000 in suspected counterfeit notes.
The statement also indicated that the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Muhammad has ordered an investigation into the incident.
“We are taking this matter very seriously. We have instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department to request a forensic analysis from the Central Bank of Nigeria to verify the authenticity of the seized notes,” he said.
“We urge the public to continue supporting law enforcement in our efforts to tackle crime and ensure the safety of our communities.”
The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to uncover additional details surrounding the case.