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๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police bust Sokoto counterfeiting gang, rescue kidnapped victims

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Sokoto State Police Command arrested four suspected members of a counterfeiting syndicate linked to the 'Sai Mallam' cult group.
  • During the raid, police recovered fake currency, charms, and equipment allegedly used for producing counterfeit money.
  • In a separate operation, police rescued two kidnapped victims during an anti-bandit raid in the Binji Local Government Area.

The Sokoto State Police Command has once again demonstrated its commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of citizens with two successful operations. In a swift intelligence-led raid, operatives apprehended four individuals involved in a sophisticated counterfeiting ring, seizing a cache of fake currencies, including CFA, US dollars, and naira notes, alongside other illicit items. This operation, targeting a house allegedly owned by a fugitive identified as Yusufa Auditor, underscores the police's proactive approach to dismantling criminal syndicates that prey on unsuspecting victims through fraudulent schemes.

The suspects confessed to criminally cheating unsuspecting victims by collecting their money, performing magic tricks and falsely convincing them that they were multiplying currency.

โ€” DSP Ahmad Rufaโ€™iStatement detailing the confessions of the arrested counterfeiting suspects.

Furthermore, in a separate but equally critical operation, the command, in collaboration with the army, thwarted a bandit attack in Jareedi village, Binji LGA. The timely intervention not only repelled the attackers but also led to the rescue of two kidnapped residents. The swift engagement by tactical teams forced the bandits to flee, ensuring the safe return of the victims, one of whom sustained a minor injury.

One of the rescued victims sustained a minor injury on his right leg and was rushed to the hospital for treatment before being discharged.

โ€” DSP Ahmad Rufaโ€™iStatement detailing the condition of one of the rescued kidnapping victims.

The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Shaffa, rightly commended the bravery of the operatives and urged the public to continue their vital role in providing actionable intelligence. The "Caliphate" relies on the vigilance of its people to root out all forms of criminality. These successes highlight the ongoing efforts to combat cultism, kidnapping, and banditry, reinforcing the message that security agencies are resolute in their mission to ensure peace and stability across the state.

We now call on all residents of the Caliphate to continue providing timely, actionable information to security agencies. Your eyes and ears are critical to dismantling all forms of crime and criminality in our beloved state.

โ€” Hayatu ShaffaCommissioner of Police urging continued public cooperation with security agencies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.