Police arrest man in possession of counterfeit CFA currency

By : Bala Yahaya, Minna

Date: 22 May 2025 10:48pm WAT

A picture taken on September 12, 2017 shows franc CFA banknotes. A controversial west African activist, Kemi Seba, was expelled from Senegal following an incident last month in which he burned 5,000 CFA francs -- a banknote worth 7.6 euros ($9.10) -- in an anti-colonial protest over "French Africa". The CFA franc is pegged to the euro and used in 14 African countries, six of which are former French colonies. / AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images)

The Police Command in Niger state, says it has arrested a suspect for possessing counterfeit CFA currency in Hajj camp, Minna.

The Command Spokesman, SP Wasiu Abiodun, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Minna.

According to Abiodun, on May 18, the police received information that a syndicate that specialised in selling alleged counterfeit currencies to unsuspecting intending pilgrims was sighted in the hajj camp.

He said police operatives attached to the Bosso Division swiftly mobilised to the scene and arrested one Nda-Baba Mohammed.

He said the suspect was found in possession of 40,000 Francs CFA, suspected to be counterfeit currency.

“In the course of investigation, the suspect confessed that he stole the said currencies from the house of one Mohammed of Kwara, when he went to carry out farming activities for him.”

Abiodun said the suspect is in custody, and further investigation is being conducted to ascertain the origin of the said currencies.