Police bust fake NIN, voter card syndicate in Niger, suspect made over N3m

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old man for allegedly operating a fake identity document syndicate, producing forged National Identity Number, NIN, and Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, for more than 1,000 people and making over N3 million from the illegal business.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the command’s operational achievements for July in Minna..

Elleman identified the suspect as Mohammed Aliyu Buba of Angwan Sarki area in Munya Local Government Area of the state.

According to the commissioner, intelligence received on July 28 indicated that the suspect had been producing fake NIN and voter cards for unsuspecting members of the public, particularly in Munya and Wushishi Local Government Areas.

He said operatives of the Command’s Tactical Support Team immediately launched an investigation and arrested the suspect at his residence on the same day.

The police commissioner said a search of the residence led to the recovery of 105 fake NIN cards and 189 fake Permanent Voter Cards.

Elleman said during interrogation, the suspect confessed to producing fake identity documents for more than 1,000 people, charging N2,000 for each fake NIN card and N1,000 for each fake voter card.

According to him, “The suspect admitted that he has realised over N3 million as proceeds from the illegal business”..

Elleman said the suspect remains in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

He warned members of the public against patronising illegal identity document producers, stressing that obtaining forged government documents is a criminal offence with serious legal consequences.

The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks involved in fraud, forgery and identity-related crimes across the state and urged residents to report suspicious activities to the police.