Fake currency printer arrested in Nasarawa

A 62-year-old John Kennedy, who specialized in printing fake foreign currencies, alongside 22 other suspected criminals were, on Friday, arrested by the police in Nasarawa State.


The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Shehu, who disclosed this to newsmen at the command headquarters in Lafia, the state capital, also added that fake currencies like pounds sterling, dollars and euros were recovered in large quantities from Kennedy.


He explained that the suspect, who initially was based in Abuja, relocated to Mararaba town in the state and started duping people, but he was arrested based on a tip-off by detectives in Mararaba division.


Shehu said detective led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Nasarawa division, Mohammed Hashim, a Superintendent of Police (SP), also smashed a gang of Fulani gunrunners who were seeking to purchase arms and ammunition with N1,448,800.


According to him, "four men namely Abdullahi Hussein, Suleiman Ibrahim, Abubakar Damina and Salihu Illu, all Fulani by tribe, at Nasarawa Local Government, were caught and arrested with a sum of N1, 448, 800. Suspects confessed that they were seeking to buy arms and ammunition from criminal minded people who could sell five AK47 for them before luck ran out of them.


"Police surveillance team attached to New Nyanya Police Station led by Sergeant Alhassan Auta arrested one Chibuke Chijioke of New Karu with a locally made pistol and six rounds of 9mm live ammunition.


During investigation, two additional pistols with seven rounds of 9mm live ammunition were recovered from his partners Obande Samuel of Obande street, Otukpo, Benue State, Sunday Omoregbe of Jeun Masaka and Emmanuel Okenwa of Aso Mararaba. They were hiding inside ABC Guest Inn located at Jeun Masaka.


"Security is everybody's business and a safe society is the desire of every well meaning citizen. To actualize the police mandate of keeping the society safe, protect life and properties, all hands must be on deck" the CP Shehu added.

Nigerian Tribune