Police arrest four suspected armed robbers, recover counterfeit dollars in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four suspected armed robbers and foiled separate attempts to circulate suspected counterfeit United States dollars in Bauchi metropolis, Darazo and Yana.

The command said the arrests were recorded during intelligence-led operations carried out across the state.

The command’s spokesman, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu.

In the first incident, which occurred in Bauchi metropolis, Habib said operatives arrested three suspected armed robbers after a 19-year-old resident of Fadan Bayak, Jahun, reported that he had been attacked at about 9 pm on Tuesday.

He said the victim was intercepted by three men who allegedly placed a knife on his neck and dispossessed him of his Tecno Pop 9 phone, valued at N80,000.

According to him, operatives traced the suspects to a room at Unguwar Ardo, where they arrested 18-year-old Usman Aliyu of Sabuwar Kasuwa, Railway; Usman Musa of Unguwar Ardo; and Aliyu Babangida of Sabuwar Kasuwa.

“Three knives, including the one used for the robbery, were recovered,” Habib said.

He added that the suspects led detectives to the residence of another 18-year-old suspect, Usman Adamu, also of Unguwar Ardo, where the stolen phone was recovered.

The police spokesperson said one of the suspects was an ex-convict, adding that they remained in police custody and would be prosecuted.

In Darazo, the police said detectives acting on intelligence arrested 25-year-old Adamu Umar of Jigawa State over an alleged attempt to exchange counterfeit US dollars for naira around Nahutan.

The operation led to the recovery of 67 suspected counterfeit US dollar notes, a machete and a Tecno keypad phone, while two other suspects reportedly escaped.

Habib said Umar attacked and injured a police officer with the machete during the arrest.

He added that the suspect later attempted to escape while being taken to the police station on a motorcycle, resulting in injuries to himself and two officers.

The injured persons were treated and discharged at the General Hospital, Darazo.

Similarly, the command said two men were arrested in Yana, Shira Local Government Area, over alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating and possession of suspected counterfeit currency.

SP Habib said a 42-year-old man from Agege, Lagos State, reported that he had travelled to Yana after Tanimu Garba, 42, and Habibu Ahmed, 38, allegedly invited him for a foreign exchange transaction.

He said the victim transferred N4.449m to an account provided by the suspects, after which they allegedly assaulted him with sticks, gave him suspected counterfeit $100 notes and fled into a nearby bush.

The police said 96 suspected counterfeit $100 notes were recovered from Garba’s residence.

Habib said the cases had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Bauchi, for discreet investigation and prosecution.

The command advised residents to be wary of fraudulent foreign exchange transactions, urging them to use only licensed and verifiable channels.