Police Arrest Nasarawa Man for Allegedly Selling Fake Currency

The Nigeria Police Force in Nasarawa State has apprehended a 62-year-old man, Mamuda Hassan, over alleged involvement in the circulation of counterfeit naira notes.

Hassan, said to be a resident of Anchor Zaria in Kaduna State, was arrested by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia following what police described as credible intelligence.

Confirming the arrest on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ramhan Nansel, disclosed that the suspect was picked up at a cattle market in Lafia while allegedly distributing fake N1,000 notes.

According to the police, the suspect admitted during interrogation that the counterfeit currency was supplied by an accomplice based in Mararaba Akunza, also within Lafia. The accomplice, however, remains at large, with efforts ongoing to track and arrest him.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Shetima Mohammed, used the development to caution members of the public against falling victim to such schemes, urging heightened vigilance during cash transactions.

“Members of the public, especially traders, POS operators, fuel station attendants and motor park workers, must be vigilant. They should carefully examine currency notes and report anyone suspected of circulating fake money to the nearest police station,” he said.

He further advised residents to pay attention to telltale signs of counterfeit notes, including poor print quality, repeated serial numbers, irregular note sizes, and the absence of key security features.

The police said investigations are ongoing as part of efforts to dismantle the network behind the illegal operation.