The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a 65-year-old man, Mamuda Hassan, over his alleged involvement in the circulation of counterfeit currency in the state.
In a statement on Sunday, the police said the suspect was arrested by operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia, following what they described as credible intelligence.
According to the Force public relations officer, Ramhan Nansel, preliminary investigations showed that Hassan was apprehended at a cattle market in Lafia while allegedly trading with fake N1,000 denomination notes.
Police said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed that the counterfeit currency was supplied by an accomplice based in Mararaba Akunza, a community on the outskirts of Lafia.
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Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest the alleged accomplice, the statement added.
The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, urged members of the public to remain vigilant, particularly traders, small business owners, fuel station attendants, Point-of-Sale (POS) operators and motor park workers who regularly handle cash.
He advised residents to watch out for signs of counterfeit notes, including poor print quality, smaller-than-normal size, unusual textures, duplicated serial numbers and the absence of visible security features.
The commissioner also called on the public to promptly report anyone found in possession of, or attempting to circulate, suspected fake currency to the nearest police station, stressing that public cooperation was essential to curbing financial crimes.