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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), through the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG-SIS) in collaboration with the NSCDC Kano State Command, has arrested 16 suspected criminals for various offences.
ACC Afolabi Babawale, National Public Relations Officer, NSCDC National Headquarters, Abuja, stated in a Monday statement that the offences ranged from criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, and suspected kidnapping to illegal mining, unlawful possession of firearms, printing of counterfeit US dollars, obtaining by false pretence, and other related crimes.
According to the statement, one Abbas Lawan Garkuwa was allegedly involved in printing counterfeit US dollars and was arrested with fake $600,000, an amount equivalent to almost one billion naira.
He was also accused of obtaining money by false pretence after issuing fake United States dollars totalling $6,200 to a victim at an exchange rate of N1,452, having earlier received N9 million from the same individual.
The statement added, “Investigation revealed that the suspect received N5.5 million through his Zenith Bank account. He also orchestrated a fake transfer of N8 million through an accomplice, Kabiru Ketti, in order to deceive the victim.”
Garkuwa was arrested on February 27 at Kwankwasiya City, Zaria Road, Kumbotso LGA, Kano State. He was also found in possession of large quantities of a substance suspected to be charms, along with ten empty chemical containers, a travel ticket to Cameroon, chemicals used in counterfeiting, plain sheets, a security ID card bearing his name, GTBank and Zenith ATM cards, complimentary cards, and other personal items.
Further investigation reportedly linked his counterfeit currency operations to one Usman Muazu of Tanturus, Gombe State, who remains at large.
In another operation, Sulaiman Mallam Uba was arrested in Kano while in possession of six brand-new, locally fabricated rifles. He stated that he received the weapons from Shuaibu Isiyaka on the instructions of their leader, Suleiman Isiyaka.
Upon his arrest, Suleiman Isiyaka confessed that the criminal network operated under the guise of a private security outfit, using the cover of guard duties to facilitate illegal activities and the movement of arms from Yobe State to the Okene general area of Kogi State.
He admitted to deploying members of the syndicate between 2024 and 2025 to support illicit firearms movement and associated criminal operations.
Items recovered included six locally fabricated rifles, charms, amulets, and chains.
The squad also arrested Kaumi Alhaji Kadau, 39, from Gujba LGA, Yobe State, who runs an arms manufacturing workshop specialising in locally made weapons sold to kidnappers, bandits, insurgents, and other criminals.
Recovered from him were six improvised gun pipes, three improvised fire selectors, six saw blades, a hand file, twelve hand files, a hammer, two screwdrivers, two pliers, two bicycle fenders, a piece of sandpaper, two knives, a taper punch, an axe, two pieces of wood, a bicycle jack, two wooden hand metals, half a tin of spray paint, nineteen other metals, and an iron toolbox.
He confessed to selling these items to Sulaiman Mallam Uba, who is presently in custody.
Commandant Dandaura further confirmed the arrest of eight suspects at Ososo Line 4, BUA International Cement Company, Okpella, Etsako East LGA, Edo State, for offences including criminal conspiracy, suspected kidnapping, criminal trespass, illegal mining, and unlawful entry into restricted areas.
NSCDC arrests 16 suspects for counterfeit currency, other crimes
