The officers Nigeria Police Force in Sokoto State have arrested four suspected members of a counterfeiting syndicate linked to the notorious “Sai Mallam” cult group.
The officers also rescued two kidnapped victims following a separate anti-bandit operation in Binji Local Government Area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i.
Rufa’i said the operatives of the Command’s Strike Force Unit carried out an intelligence-led raid on May 19 in the Mana area of Sokoto metropolis following information provided by a resident.
The police said the operation targeted a house allegedly owned by one Yusufa Auditor, who is currently at large.
Those arrested were identified as Saifullahi Aminu of Dallatu Road area, Ahmad Sarkin Aski of Mana area, Muhammadu Lawali, also known as Gunda, from Dange Shuni LGA, and Usama Muhammad, alias Na’Ukada.
Police said exhibits recovered from the suspects included fake CFA currencies, counterfeit United States dollars and naira notes, charms, fake gold stones, SIM cards, ATM cards and a “magic box” allegedly used in producing fake money.
The statement said the suspects confessed during interrogation to conspiring with another suspect, Yanusa S. Aski, who remains at large, to deceive victims through fake money-doubling 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,” the statement said.
In a separate operation on May 20, police operatives attached to Binji Police Station, in collaboration with personnel of the Army Forward Operating Base, foiled what authorities described as a bandit attack on Jareedi village in Binji LGA.
The attackers reportedly stormed the community late at night, firing sporadically before abducting two residents identified as Umar Faruku, 30, and Husa Abdullahi, 52.
The police boss said tactical teams engaged the bandits in a gun duel, forcing them to flee into a nearby forest and abandon the victims.
“One of the rescued victims sustained a minor injury on his right leg and was rushed to the hospital for treatment before being discharged,” the statement added.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the operatives involved in both operations and praised residents for providing useful intelligence to security agencies.
“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,” the police commissioner said.
He assured residents that the command would continue to intensify efforts against cultism, kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities across the state.
Recall that on Tuesday, the Edo State Police Command rescued an abducted woman.
The police said, “On 16th May, 2026, at about 0945hrs, one Chinedu George ‘m’, aged 18years, reported that he was abducted with his mother, Mrs. Vivian George, aged 57 years, by suspected kidnappers while on their way to their farm at Ottah Community, Igbanke, but he managed to escape.
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